AMBOS Stockfeeds recently installed an automatic animal feed packaging system as part of a major upgrade to its facilities in Young, New South Wales.

The commercial arena is now starting to benefit from Android-enabled smartphones and tablets which offer PDA-like functionality. [ + ]

3M Vending Solutions provides users with an effective method to dispense essential products on-site, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This form of controlled vending can also provide cost savings, increased productivity and process improvements. [ + ]

Q H & M Birt was contracted to work on the Queensland Curtis LNG Project (QCLNG). Vehicle safety and driver awareness were key considerations for the client on this job and Future Fleet recommended the MiX Telematics In-Vehicle Monitoring System (IVMS).

Functional Safety is a complex topic frequently pigeon-holed within the domain of safety experts and complex engineering processes. It’s a sad fact that many plant operators view Functional Safety as just another regulatory hurdle that costs money without direct gains in production. However, if Functional Safety is ignored, it has the potential to seriously impact, or even ruin a company. Conversely, if implemented well, it can result in significant productivity gains according to Schneider Electric Critical Controls Solutions Executive Sven Gröne. [ + ]

A high percentage of businesses across the industry spectrum - including food, manufacturing, primary sector - continues to hand wrap palletised and skid-loaded goods, not realising the cost disadvantages it brings to the company. [ + ]

The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) at the University of Newcastle will launch tomorrow a new Centre for Resources Health and Safety, a research centre aimed at saving lives in the high-risk resources sector. The new centre has been established through a new research partnership, worth $1 million over four years, between NIER and global healthcare provider Aspen Medical. [ + ]

In a workplace incident in Victoria, a young butcher had his hand partially amputated after it was caught in a mincer while he was cleaning it. Amputations are an all-too-common type of injury that can result from unguarded, unsafe machines in the workplace, and nobody wants a workplace accident to happen under their watch. [ + ]

Flame retardants can save lives by preventing or at least slowing down the combustion of plastics, construction materials and textiles. A report by market research institute Ceresana finds that more than 2 million tonnes of flame retardants were consumed in 2013. [ + ]

Engineering consultancy pitt&sherry has delivered a comprehensive inspection of more than 250 timber and concrete bridges in Shoalhaven City Council in New South Wales using its BridgeAsyst software package. [ + ]

Rockwell Automation has collaborated with Australian electrical engineering and manufacturing company Ampcontrol Group to successfully test a solution that detects the impact of earth leakage on mine sites. [ + ]

Australian safety trade show Safety in Action is heading to Outback Australia. The exhibition will take over the Darwin Convention Centre from 19-20 March 2014 and will be a one-stop shop for all things safety. [ + ]

One health-ed video describes the increased skin cancer risk of UV exposure and the other describes effects on appearance including wrinkles and premature ageing. Which of these two videos do you think caused teenagers to use more sunscreen six weeks after it was shown? [ + ]

It is possible for drug and alcohol testing to be conveniently and easily managed in-house, without sacrificing accuracy. [ + ]

Having difficulty listening to conversations in noisy cafes and social gatherings? This could soon be a thing of the past for the hearing impaired, due to technology that cuts through background noise. [ + ]