Health and Safety
Initiatives
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Indonesia Family Day
A safety day with a focus on employees, contractors and their families has been held at BlueScope Lysaght Indonesia's Citibung site.
A safety day with a focus on employees, contractors and their families has been held at BlueScope Lysaght Indonesia's Citibung site.
Presentations included tips on how to avoid injuries and fatalities in the event of earthquakes and fire prevention at home.
Guided tours of the facility, games for children, competitions and lunch were other highlights of the day.
Safety Manager, S Surono said everyone enjoyed the day and he hoped that some of the safety tips will prevent people from being harmed, both at work and at home.
Health Day at Port Kembla
More than 3500 employees, contractors and their families turned out in force for the Port Kembla Steelworks Health and Lifestyle BIG DAY OUT, the major event of the 2006 'Take 2 for your Health' program which was run throughout June.
Building on the momentum of last year's program, the Company again partnered with health services provider ahm Total Health to help employees and their families find out how they can improve their wellbeing, track their health and get reliable, expert information on important health topics.
Steve Waugh, former Australian of the Year and former Australian test cricket captain - and ahm Total Health ambassador - was amazed at the great response to the health and lifestyle expo.
"A happy, healthy person at work leads to a happy, healthy family," he said. "It creates a good environment. I think you are more productive when you are happy. I know that's true from a cricketing point of view."
Employees welcomed the opportunity for their families to attend the day and learn more about their health in a fun, social environment. The expo helped bring together the local community, with many health, community and sports organisations participating.
Manager Safety Health and Risk, Dr Chris Darling said "We have never undertaken anything like this before and the involvement of our contractor organisations is just fantastic". Chris thanked Project Manager, Katrina James and the consultative group for their contributions to making the June program such a success.
The month-long 'Take 2 for your Health' program included a series of mini health expos at the Port Kembla Steelworks and at participating companies' sites.
In the lead up to the Health and Lifestyle BIG DAY OUT, nearly 6000 'Take Health Home' packs were distributed to employees and contractors across Port Kembla. The packs contained important health information for employees and their families.
Board Visits Working at Heights Training Centre
BlueScope Steel Board, led by Chairman Graham Kraehe, visited Lysaght Vietnam and inspected the Bien Hoa factory and the Working at Heights (W@H) Training Centre.
BlueScope Steel's Board visited Lysaght Vietnam and inspected the Bien Hoa factory and the Working at Heights (W@H) Training Centre.
In its presentation to the Board, the Lysaght Vietnam team outlined the benefits of construction management training courses and the importance of the "first in BlueScope Steel" dedicated W@H Training Centre. Feedback from customers on the site safety management has been very positive.
National Project Manager, Dien Phuong said: "There is a big difference from the past when training was conducted in theory in classrooms only. This training centre provides erectors with both theory and field training. Only people who pass the assessment and health check as part of the program are allowed to carry out W@H jobs, having then developed the skills and self-confidence to do the jobs correctly."
W@H practices were demonstrated and included accessing scaffolding, using double lanyards on roofs, lifting sheet metal along supporting lines, carrying sheets on the roof using a harness attached to movable static lines and fixing the roof.
A second W@H training centre has been built at Lysaght's northern site in Hatay province to provide the same program to sub-contractors and BlueScope Steel supervisors in Hanoi and the northern provinces.
On behalf of the Board, Deputy Chairman Ron McNeilly presented awards for 11 years lost time injury (LTI) free to the Bien Hoa site and nine years LTI free to Hatay site representatives.
High Risk Facilities Conference
BlueScope Steel hosted the first High Risk Facilities Conference in Wollongong in March 2006.
BlueScope Steel hosted the first High Risk Facilities Conference in Wollongong in March 2006 to share ideas and develop strategies with other high risk facility operators.
Forty four people from BlueScope Steel, BHP Billiton and Queensland Nickel participated in the two day conference.
High Risk Facilities are those with high consequence, low frequency, process related risks. These are typically facilities where a potential exists for hazards such as a large release of toxic gas, an explosion, or major fire.
Dr Robin Pitblado of Lloyds Register presented a keynote talk on current thinking regarding the role of plant managers in High Risk Facilities and Bill Dove from DuPont provided an assessment of how BlueScope Steel was travelling on its High Risk Facility journey.
Day two focused on methods to improve High Risk Facility auditing processes and developments in risk analysis methodologies.
Occupational Health and Safety Governance Manager, Huw Thomas presented his summary report of BlueScope Steel's High Risk Facility position and concluded there is no easy answer.
“Only by being constantly mindful of our high consequence events can we can prevent them from happening,” Huw said.
As a result of the conference, a number of improvement actions have been developed, which the High Risk Facility network will prioritise and implement across BlueScope Steel.
Contractors Driving Safety
The Contractor Safety Network (CSN) at Port Kembla was formed in 1997 to promote a communication forum between BlueScope Steel and the major contractors on site, with the aim of improving and sharing safety initiatives.
Over the years, the CSN has become more proactive and has become a major driver in promoting Zero Harm through planning strategy, as well as being represented on most of the Company’s risk based committees and review teams examining critical procedures such as authority to work, isolation, confined space, induction and access.
The CSN coordinates two major initiatives around safety each year – ‘I Choose to Work Safely Week’ and the ‘Contractors Best Practice Seminar’.
The theme for ‘I Choose to Work Safely Week’ conducted in July 2005 was ‘I Choose to Drive Safely’, with a theme of Stay Alert and Arrive Unhurt.
Work groups were encouraged to have conversations around the theme and were supported with tools such as stickers, visual displays and handouts as well as a DVD highlighting some of the hazards that could be encountered every day while driving on the plant.
High Visibility Clothing
BlueScope Steel Illawarra is moving to High Visibility clothing compliant with Australian Standards AS/NZS 4602 Class D/N Garments, following a recommendation by the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Committee.
The recommendation has been approved by Illawarra Management to improve personal safety by increasing the visibility of all personnel, particularly around Mobile Equipment.
The new High Visibility clothing will be introduced over a two year period, ending September 2007. Everyone who directly interacts with Mobile Equipment will be required to wear compliant High Visibility clothing immediately.
Illawarra sites are taking the opportunity to introduce a standard colour for BlueScope Steel employees of two toned yellow and navy shirts and jackets and yellow vests with High Visibility tape in a 'H' configuration front and back. Contractors will need to meet the requirements of Class D/N Garments in the Australian Standard.
Illawarra sites are taking the opportunity to introduce a standard colour for BlueScope Steel employees of two toned yellow and navy shirts and jackets and yellow vests with High Visibility tape in a ‘H’ configuration front and back. Contractors will be required to meet the requirements of Class D/N Garments in the Australian Standard.
Forklift Committee
The Illawarra Forklift Committee was established at the Port Kembla Steelworks as part of the BlueScope Steel Mobile Equipment Network in early 2000.
The committee established documented standards and systems to control the nominated risk to acceptable levels; developed strategies to ensure effective implementation of control measures; undertook appropriate governance activities; and reviewed the documented standards.
Following the Stop for Safety Initiative in 2005, the committee was expanded to include Springhill, CRM, Packaging Products, Brambles and the National Safety Council of Australia.
The committee initially focused on the development of a course for the retraining of forklift drivers, which was released in March 2003 and run by the National Safety Council of Australia.
Committee Chairperson, Richard Placek said the committee was focusing on the ongoing review of all forklift incidents and communication to all parts of the business about forklift matters and the continual improvement of the Forklift Code of Practice.
Health and Safety Initiatives
BlueScope Steel’s commitment to the health and safety of employees involves many initiatives aimed at achieving Zero Harm and bringing health benefits to employees.
Examples of initiatives undertaken in 2005/06 include:
- Butler Buildings commenced an ergonomic program in July 2005, to assist in achieving a reduction in sprain and strain injuries.
- In September 2005, BlueScope Steel Indonesia launched SAFIR, a Safety Information and Recording System. Since then the system has also been implemented at Lysaght Indonesia and BlueScope Steel Malaysia.
- In October 2005, our Australian Manufacturing Markets business conducted a review of all Paint Lines, using the learnings from a recent coater room fire in Kapar.
- By October 2005, all 300 New Zealand Steel staff were assigned into risk committees, as members or support audit teams.
- Port Kembla Steelworks Refractories ran a Manual Handling pilot program in November 2005.
- Packaging Products trialled new PPE, including high visibility, cut resistant shirts, arm guards and gloves in November 2005.
- Service Centres commenced a MTI Breakthrough Project in November 2005, targeted at reducing lacerations.
- The Victorian Government approved the Gas Safety Case at Western Port in November 2005. This provides a sustainable system to manage gas related risk and maintain legal compliance to the Victorian Gas Safety Act.
- “Holidays” awareness banners were placed around the Port Kembla Steelworks during December 2005 and January 2006, to remind people to “Work Safely Today – So You Can Enjoy Your Holidays” during the Christmas / New Year period.
- The Springhill Plant implemented a First Shift Back program in January 2006, where every person returning from leave attended a toolbox meeting or one on one discussion with their supervisor.
- New Zealand Steel also ran a “Safe Return to Work” promotion after the holiday period in January 2006.
- In January 2006, BlueScope Lysaght Indonesia ran a Safe Driving campaign, which involved defensive driving training.
- The Manual Handling Community of Practice and associated intranet website was established by the Port Kembla Steelworks in January 2006.
- Also in January 2006, New Zealand Steel embarked upon the Heartbeat Challenge, which focuses on nutrition, exercise, smoking and stress.
- Illawarra Coated Products progressed a Coil Storage and Stacking Code of Practice during January 2006.
- All gloves used at the Port Kembla Steelworks were reviewed in February 2006 and a base guideline for glove selection was developed.
- New Zealand Steel opened its new cafeteria in February 2006, with a range of healthier eating options and a promotional day including health checks and competitions.
- “My personal lock – MY LIFE” displays were in placed at the entrances to the Port Kembla Steelworks in February 2006, to highlight the use of personal locks and lockout procedures in all areas.
- All businesses reviewed their isolation procedures for “stored energy” in February 2006.
- The latest locomotive overhauled at the Port Kembla Steelworks was painted with the Zero Harm logo in March 2006.
- The Butler Buildings Group in North America established a Safe Loading Group in March 2006.
- The Take 2 program was launched across the Western Port site in April 2006. The program was a training, crew activity, poster and tier audit based program focussed on Safe People, Safe Plant and Safe Systems.
- The Company’s Fall Prevention Safety Network completed a comprehensive guideline document in June 2006.
- Western Port achieved its best ever audit participation in 2005/2006, with nearly 100 per cent of employees completing a safety audit each and every month.
- In July 2006, the Buildings Division established the inaugural North America President’s Safety Excellence Award for most improved business. The award was presented at a Leadership conference in August 2006.
- A “stored energy” refresher briefing was undertaken at New Zealand Steel in July 2006.
