Occupational Health and Safety Innovation Awards 2010

NSWMC and its members are resolutely committed to health and safety in the workplace. The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Innovation Awards are held as part of the industry’s annual OHS Conference and focus on acknowledging and rewarding individuals, teams and companies that make significant contributions to OHS innovation and practice. Nominations must show commitment to health and safety in the minerals industry through creative and proven solutions to OHS issues.

29 nominations were received for the Innovation Awards last year, representing the industry’s continual commitment to innovative safety and health techniques and practice. From the 29 nominations there were:

• 22 nominations in the safety category
• 7 in the health category.

The ten finalists presented their entries at the 2010 OHS Conference to a panel of industry specialists who judged the quality of the entries to find the most innovative and original of entries. Awardees were subsequently announced at the annual Innovation Awards Dinner. 

Winner
The 2010 NSW Minerals Council OHS Innovation Award was granted to Centennial Coal (Mannering Colliery) for a machine that has eliminated manual handling injuries. The Mannering Strap Lifter picks up straps that are bolted to the roof of an underground coal mine. This innovation allows machinery to restock roof bolts, replacing the need for workers to perform this strenuous requirement. The Mannering Strap Lifter eliminates manual handling injuries relating to workers lifting heavy straps above their heads


Left to right: Dr Nikki Williams, Derek Harrison, Mick Townsend, Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally

Highly Commended - Safety
The Highly Commended (Safety) award was granted to Xstrata Coal’s Baal Bone Colliery for their Continuous Miner No Go Zone Indication Lights. Coloured mode indicator lights have been fitted to a continuous miner to give nearby workers a visual indication of whether it is safe to enter near the machinery in operation. This directly reduces risk to workers who may otherwise have entered unaware into a No Go Zone.


Left to right: Dr Nikki Williams, Robert Langford, John Collett, Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally

Highly Commended - Health
The Highly Commended (Health) award was granted to Centennial Coal’s Angus Place Colliery for their Drill Rig Cable Mounted Pusher. The Drill Rig Cable Mounted Pusher is a mechanical cable pushing device which has engineered out the large amount of manual handling required for inserting cable bolts into the roof of underground mines.

 
Left to right: Peter Corbett, Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally

People's Choice - The Innovation Voted the Best by the Conference Delegates
The People’s Choice award was selected by 450 industry participants at the 2010 Innovation Awards Dinner. The award was won by Xstrata Coal’s West Wallsend Colliery for their Quick Detach System Stone Dust Carrier. This innovation is a new lift attachment that provides underground miners with a safe work position for working at height. The Quick Detach System Stone Dust Carrier has reduced issues of personnel having to awkwardly handle stone dust bags which need to be hung from the roof of an underground coal mine.


Left to right: Dr Nikki Williams, Steve Nash, Darryl Hogan, Former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally