Safety innovations recognised at CCAA EH&S Awards

Safety and environmental initiatives for Queensland’s heavy construction materials industry have been recognised at the 2012 CCAA Queensland Environment, Health and Safety Awards.

The awards showcase and recognise best practice in environment, health and safety in the cement, premixed concrete and extractive industries in Queensland.

The winners were announced in Brisbane at the Construction Materials Industry Dinner, jointly hosted by Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA) and the Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) and sponsored by Hastings Deering. The Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade, the Hon Tim Nicholls MP, presented the awards.

The big winners in this year’s Environmental Innovation category were Holcim and Nucrush, while in the Health and Safety category Holcim again shared the top honour with Agi-Kleen.

Holcim shared the Environmental Innovation Award for the introduction of a carbon emissions reduction strategy for aggregate transport vehicles, which has realised a reduction in emissions of 1449 tonnes (or 7%) over a three-year period, saving 540,000 litres of fuel.

The joint winner in the category was Nucrush for its ongoing Good Neighbour Program, a community group partnership built around quarry open days, tree planting, a school resources project and community surveys.

Holcim returned to the winner’s podium in the Health and Safety Innovation category for a volunteer safety improvement and communication team leader program within its driver groups, which has resulted in increased reporting of incidents, near misses and hazards.

Joint winner in the category was Agi-Kleen for the development of a robotic cleaning system for concrete agitators that eliminates the need for manual cleaning, and with it the associated OHS risks.

CCAA State Director Aaron Johnstone said the quality of entries in this year’s awards was underlined by the decision to announce joint winners in the major categories.

“The Queensland industry continues to make giant strides in improving its safety and environmental performance, setting benchmarks for other industries to strive towards,” he said.

The full list of winning and commended projects named last night were:

Best Overall Environmental Innovation  - sponsored by Holcim Australia

• Joint winner - Holcim for its vehicle carbon emissions reduction strategy
• Joint winner - Nucrush for its Good Neighbour Program

Environmental Innovation (Concrete) - sponsored by BASF Australia

• Neilsens Carole Park site for the implementation of a concrete reclaimer to process returned concrete

Environmental Innovation (Extractive) - Sponsored by Underwriting Agencies of Australia

• Neilsens for the installation of an air sweep plant to convert the quarry crusher dust at its Bromelton quarry into manufactured sand

Environmental Innovation - Highly Commended

• Hanson for its introduction of a comprehensive community engagement program at its Wolffdene quarry
• Boral for increasing fauna habitat and land management at Petrie and Narangba quarries

Best Overall Health and Safety Innovation

• Joint winner - Holcim for its volunteer safety improvement and communication team leaders program
• Joint winner - Agi-Kleen for its robotic concrete removal system for agitators

Health and Safety Innovation (Concrete) - sponsored by Sika Australia

• Boral for the introduction of a Safe Reversing Campaign

Health and Safety Innovation (Extractive) - sponsored by Metso

• Hanson’s Wolffdene site for improving truck safety on local roads through presentations to local high school students

Health and Safety Innovation - Highly Commended

• Boral Gladstone for meeting the challenges of supply to a major project
• Holcim for its introduction of a concrete delivery safe site program
• Pioneer North Queensland for the introduction of its Safety Management Plan and Zero Harm Program