The annual Innovation Awards, granted at the 17th Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference held last week in Townsville, promote the application of practical ideas with the potential for adoption at mines throughout Australia.

“These awards are part of the enormous efforts made, particularly over the past decade, that have seen the number of lost time injuries per million hours worked in the mining and quarrying sector improve from 20.2 in 1996-97 to 4.6 in 2004-05,” said conference chairman Peter Dent.

“However, we recognise there is more to be done to reach the industry’s own goal of zero fatalities, serious injuries and occupational disease,” he said.

Kestrel’s winning entry was designed by contract maintenance employee Craig Firth, with the support of Kestrel colleagues. The jig effectively removes existing hazards from conveyor maintenance work conducted up to two times per week.

The Kestrel innovation will now compete in the Minex national mine safety innovation awards staged by the Minerals Council of Australia.

The Peoples’ Choice prize was awarded to BMA’s Blackwater Mine for the development of a sliding connector to reduce hazards associated with accessing dragline hubs during the change out of high voltage cables.