Mackay Safe Work Awards finalists announced

Published Tuesday, 02 October, 2012 at 09:00 AM

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
The Honourable Jarrod Bleijie

Mackay’s Zemek Engineering and XStrata Coal Newlands Northern Underground Mine at Glenden are finalists in this year's Queensland Safe Work Awards.

The awards celebrate innovation and commitment to workplace health and safety.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie announced the finalists today and commended the organisations for taking the lead in designing and building a better safety culture across Queensland.

Mr Bleijie said the XStrata Coal Newlands Northern Underground Mine had developed a machine to reduce the need for work at height, as well as manual handling and waste.

“The ‘trickle duster’ can hold four tonnes of stone dust, which means a difficult task previously done by three workers can now be done by one machine,” he said.

Mr Bleijie said the other Mackay finalist was Zemek Engineering, which developed a system for workers using electrical shovel dipper handles.

“The ‘dipper handle rotation system' has led to fewer mobile cranes in the workshop, improved traffic management and a reduction in fumes,” he said.

“Most importantly, it has reduced the risk of workers being hit by falling objects.

“Workers no longer need to work at dangerous heights and there is less call for potentially hazardous manual tasks.”

The awards are run by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Electrical Safety Office.

Winners will be announced on 23 October.

For more information on the Safe Work Awards finalists, visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au or call the WHS Infoline on 1300 369 915.

Media contact:  Matt Johnston 32383372