WINNER - Category 2 Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
Rotacaster Wheel Limited
Rotacaster Wheel Limited is an Australian owned and operated company that manufactures the only multi-directional wheel in Australia. The wheel is mounted in a fixed position and provides a wealth of OHS benefits when used in hand carts, trolleys, hand trucks, dollies and other custom applications.
Initiative
Throughout various industries hand trucks are used to assist in handling heavy or awkward loads. There are a number of risks associated with hand trucks, including the frequent lifting of heavy items, substantial effort required for leverage on kerbs, and balancing the load while travelling.
Newcastle resident and managing director of Rotacaster Wheel Ltd. Peter McKinnon, invented the Rotatruck after recognising the hazards associated with conventional hand trucks. With a background in construction, Peter designed the self-supporting Rotatruck to reduce user effort and the risk of strain injuries.
The hand truck is mounted with durable Rotacaster wheels, that provide 360 degree manoeuvrability as well as the stability of fixed mounting. The device supports the user’s load, meaning operators do not need to carry or balance any weight.
The ergonomic design removes the need to reverse over kerbs and obstructions allowing users to lever loads rather than lift them – keeping hands free for removing hazards. The invention also reduces the pull back effort required when changing from the loading to transporting position, and allows the user to move directly sideways or rotate on the spot in confined spaces such as cool rooms and lifts.
Rotatruck has eliminated many of the manual handling risks associated with hand trucks and has improved the occupational health and safety in many workplaces. The Rotatruck is now being shipped internationally.
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Category 2 Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
Bucyrus Australia Underground
Bucyrus designs and manufactures mining equipment for surface and underground mining. Bucyrus surface equipment is used for mining coal, copper and iron ore. In addition to manufacturing, Bucyrus also provides support services for its equipment.
Initiative
Hydraulic fluid under high pressure creates a serious potential for injury if not managed correctly. A pin hole in the equipment can allow hydraulic fluid to exit a machine at 1500 km/hour. Hydraulic machinery’s bleed valves are used to dissipate the hydraulic pressure and are manually repaired by workers, placing them in a high risk situation.
To counteract this problem, Bucyrus has developed the ‘Bleed Valve Tool’. The tool is an increased control measure that reaches the awkward spaces of the machine, while dissipating and redirecting the flow of the fluid. This simple and multi purpose tool acts as a spanner while shielding the worker from any potential risks.
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Category 2 Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
MidCoast County Council
MidCoast County Council trading as MidCoast Water is a community water authority, providing water and sewerage services on the NSW Mid North Coast. The Authority administers an area of 7000 square kilometres, providing services to 38,000 customers. It operates four water supply schemes, 15 sewage treatment plants and maintains a reticulation network of 40 reservoirs, 205 pumping stations and some 2000km of pipelines.
Initiative
Traditionally manhole covers weigh around 38 kilograms, posing a manual handling injury risk. MidCoast Water put together an in-house project team to address this hazard and identified a number of other risks, including covers becoming slippery in the wet, unauthorised access, and the rusting of metal handle lugs.
In order to counteract these hazards, the project team developed a new lightweight and watertight cover that complies with both OHS and environmental legislation. The new cover’s non-corrosive material weighs just 14 kilograms, is non-slip and lockable. This innovation not only limits the potential injury to staff and the community, but can also be used across the entire water and sewerage industry.
HIGHLY COMMENDED - Category 2 Best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue
MidCoast County Council
The location, façade and foundation of Citigate Central Sydney has been offering accommodation in Australia for over 120 years. The low-rise, sandstone building is heritage listed and lends an air of old world charm and traditional style. The Citigate Central Sydney is a popular Sydney CBD hotel offering 255 guest rooms to international and domestic customers.
Initiative
Staff responsible for transporting goods to and from the lower dock were often required to manually manoeuvre heavy trolleys up and down the dock’s slippery ramps. This presented a potential manual handling risk and lead Citigate Central’s Health Safety Environment (HSE) committee to find an alternative solution – a motorised trolley.
The trolleys were custom made for sloping ramps, eliminating the need for physical exertion and the risk of body stressing injuries. The HSE also identified that the ramp’s surface was becoming worn and slippery, and added the extra precaution of resurfacing the ramp with non-slip material – ensuring the busy working environment remains safe and secure.