SafePanel - SafePanel
Best solution to a workplace health and safety issue - 2012 Awards
Current practice in the Precast industry is to use a welded connection to join Precast Panels together. Involving working at heights and the other associated risks with on site welding.
The SafePanel system performs an automatic connection set up at ground level with no welding or working at heights.
SafePanel was awarded the Concrete Institute's Award for Excellence in the Technology Category.
SafePanel has been in development for 24 months and began trading in September 2011
www.safepanel.net
What was the issue/s at the workplace?
Current practice in the Precast industry is to use a welded connection to join Precast Panels together. Involving working at heights and the other associated risks with on site welding.
What did you do to control it/resolve it?
The SafePanel system performs an automatic connection set up at ground level with no welding or working at heights.
It eliminates? Working at heights, welding from elevated platforms, ladders and booms.
It is a system where all the work is done at ground level and connections are made automatically as the panels are placed?
SafePanel was awarded the Concrete Institute's Award for Excellence in the Technology Category.
SafePanel has been in development for 24 months and began trading in September 2011
Who did you talk to about the issue/s or who helped you resolve it?
Initial consultation was done with Bala Rajadurai from WorkSafe, further consultation was undertaken with the National Precast Association to evaluate the benefits to Industry and employees.
I also had subsequent discussions with management and staff at Southern Precast on site and this helped us to develop a Safe Work Method Statement.
It was important to us that we had direct input from crews involved in erecting panels so that we had unfiltered feedback regarding existing processes and potential OH&S benefits of using the SafePanel system
What was the outcome? How is the workplace better now?
This system has eliminated the bolting and welding of Precast panels. It is a significant reduction of risk in the Precast construction industry.
Trials were done in the yards and onsite to evaluate any problems in using the system this led to several refinements to the process.
Tagging system introduced to double check process with no work at heights checking connections. With welded connections this can not be done.
Workers have commented that current methods are physically exhausting, with muscle strains and joint injuries an ongoing problem
Substituting high strength grouted connections for bolted or welded connections results in a fully engineered ductile connection without the hazards attached bolting and welding at heights
Several projects designed with welded connections were changed to the SafePanel system with significant OH&S benefits and significant reductions in cost and hand over time.
The system with some modifications could be used in the steel industry.
*Disclaimer:
The publishing of entries on the WorkSafe Awards website and or/the granting of an award does not constitute any endorsement by WorkSafe Victoria of a product, method or service, or the occupational health and safety performance of the workplace. Monthly Champions must undergo expert review to progress through to the stringent validation and judging process and can only progress to the next stage of entry once WorkSafe are satisfied that the entry/entrant has met the relevant award category criteria and terms and condition of entry.
