Queensland Mining Industry Occupational Safety and Health

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Queensland Mining Industry Occupational Safety and Health"

Alyson Bailey
5 years ago
Views:

1 Queensland Mining Industry Occupational Safety and Health Innovation Awards 2003 Company: Site: Pacific Coal Pty Limited Kestrel Mine Innovation Title: A.S.E Vest (Austin s Support & Equipment Vest) Contact Person: Position: Warren Pendlebury Senior Safety & Training Advisor Address: PO Box 1969, Emerald, Qld, 4720 Phone: Fax: warren.pendlebury@pcpl.riotinto.com.au Alternate Contact Person: Kylie Herman Position: Safety & Training Advisor Phone: kylie.herman@pcpl.riotinto.com.au

2 THE PROBLEM For all personnel involved in the underground mining industry, the wearing of a miner s belt is a necessity as it provides a place to store essential equipment that is required on a person at all times (See Photo 1). In certain circumstances, the weight on this belt can reach 16 kilograms. A major problem with the miner s belt is that it is extremely uncomfortable in terms of weight and bulk due to the necessary equipment that is attached ie cap lamp & PED, self-rescuer, gas & ventilation monitoring equipment and tools (See Photo 2). Other problems include restriction of movement in certain work areas due to the bulk and a possibility that, in an emergency situation, employees may become confused when trying to locate emergency breathing apparatus. The potential also exists for a number of injuries to be sustained through use of the belt including: long and short-term lower back problems long-term hip problems bruising and chaffing of the hips THE SOLUTION How was the solution developed, by whom and whether employee / management consultation played a part in the development of the solution: Maehe Austin, an Underground Operator Maintainer, and his wife Debra thought of this concept after Maehe continually suffered a sore back and Debra decided to address the issue. Together they developed a prototype of the vest and then consulted other underground employees for their advice and opinion with regards to the location of items on the vest, comfort and fit. They also consulted a Chiropractor with regards to the design. After surveying fellow underground workers who had worn each prototype, one was chosen based on its ability to provide a firm, supportive fit without restricting movement (See Photo 3). Brief outline of the general control principle: The solution is a design modification to the existing method of wearing essential tools and equipment on the person whereby a vest has been introduced and the belt utilized in conjunction with the vest (See Photo 4). A.S.E. Vest **PATENT PENDING** Page 2 of 7

3 How the solution works: The ASA vest is designed to take the weight of all the required equipment and redistribute it evenly over the shoulders, back, chest and hips to help minimize both the long term and short term injuries that may be sustained from wearing the miner s belts. Ergonomic testing will be carried out in the near future to provide proof of the vest s suitability in minimizing these injuries. Features of the vest include: Pocket/Sleeve for carrying a 2L water bladder on the back to address heat issues water on hand for drinking as well as iced water cooling body (back is lined to prevent muscle chill from the iced water) Support harness consisting of vertical and horizontal straps running through the vest for supporting weight Harness rings attached to bottom of support harness enabling attachment of legs straps so that it can be used as a safety harness when working at height Velcro strips on shoulders and sides to enable personal adjustment for a firmer, more supportive fit Reflective striping for visibility Fire retardant Water resistant Breathable material for higher temperatures Anti-static where possible Have any further modifications and improvements been made since the first attempts to solve the problem: The prototype that has now been handed over to the manufacturer is the fourth since the original design with each prototype being modified and continually improved to suit the underground miner. Modifications that were made include changing it from a one piece vest to a three piece vest to allow adjustability for different sized people; removing fixed pockets as the number of pockets required on the vest depend on the requirements of the job; changing the material to make it more breathable in high temperatures; and the inclusion of the water bladder on the back of the vest to address heat management issues. A.S.E. Vest **PATENT PENDING** Page 3 of 7

4 THE BENEFITS Effects: The major effect of the ASE vest will be to decrease long-term risk of back and hip injury. Another effect is the ability to address heat management issues by having a water bladder stored on the back of the vest. Applicability / Transferability for Industry: Not only is the ASE vest applicable to all mining companies, it is also transferable across other industries. It would be particularly applicable to construction industry workers who often carry a large number of tools on a belt also. THE COSTS Is the solution cost-effective and why: The total cost for the vest is seen as minimal for the long-term benefits of minimized back and hip injuries that may occur. Currently, a fully outfitted belt with pouches, clips, etc can cost up to $200. It is estimated that the cost will be approximately $400 - $500 per vest. A.S.E. Vest **PATENT PENDING** Page 4 of 7

5 APPENDIX PHOTOS PHOTO 1: Examples of Employees Wearing Current Miner Belt A.S.E. Vest **PATENT PENDING** Page 5 of 7

6 PHOTO 2: Miner Belt PHOTO 3: Proposed Miner Vest A.S.E. Vest **PATENT PENDING** Page 6 of 7

7 PHOTO 4: Features of the Miner Vest A.S.E. Vest **PATENT PENDING** Page 7 of 7

COMFORT FUNCTION DURABILITY THE NEXT GENERATION FULL BODY HARNESS. Get into the Best!

COMFORT FUNCTION DURABILITY THE NEXT GENERATION FULL BODY HARNESS Get into the Best! Get into the Best! Although many in the industry see our harnesses as having no equal, we continue to improve, refine