Mining the best in OHS practice
Three UniSA researchers were part of the team to be awarded the prestigious 2008 Liberty Mutual Medal in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics for
Digging Deeper, the largest study of occupational health and safety in the Australian mining industry.
Associate Professor Verna Blewett, Dr Sally Ferguson and Professor Drew Dawson from UniSA’s Centre for Sleep Research were among the international team of occupational health and safety (OHS) researchers, led by Andrea Shaw from Shaw Idea Pty Ltd, to prepare the study for the NSW Mine Safety Advisory Council.
The winner of the annual Liberty Mutual Medal is selected by the International Ergonomics Association. It is the most prestigious award of its kind in the field of occupational ergonomics and safety and carries a prize of US$10,000.
Prof Blewett said the study provided detailed information about the effectiveness of occupational health and safety management with respect to work hours and fatigue management; production bonus and safety incentive schemes; and occupational health and safety management systems, including consultation.
"The major outcome of our study are the Platinum Rules, 10 key action areas we recommended the NSW mining industry should take to more effectively manage OHS. These rules have the potential to change mine safety and conditions the world over," Prof Blewett said.
The research team will be presented with the award at the 44th annual conference of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia (HFESA), to be held at UniSA from November 17-19.
The theme of this year’s conference is Sustainable Performance - The Human Factor, Ergonomics and the Work Environment.
"Sustainability is a key driver of business performance, development and research and community expectations in our fast changing environment. Knowing where people fit into the picture is critical for success – that’s what human factors and ergonomics offers," Prof Blewett said.
"The interface between people, their tasks and their physical and psychosocial work environments is much more important than many people realise. We are learning a lot about the work-related determinants of health through research like Digging Deeper. Indications are that these will have long-term negative health outcomes unless we start to control them now. And they are capable of being controlled as our Platinum Rules codify."
One of the three keynote speakers is Dr Greg Zehner, physical anthropologist with the US Air Force who will discuss the use of anthropometrics in design. He will also run a two-day post-conference workshop on the use of anthropometrics in design on 20-21 November at UniSA.
Prof Blewett said the HFESA conference and workshop would appeal to a wide audience, from safety management specialists, risk managers and occupational therapists to industrial engineers and human resource professionals.
For more information about the conference, visit www.hfesaconference.org.au