RIMS has been instrumental in assisting many organisations to reduce injury risks by improving work environment and processes.
While working with news and current affairs camera crews RIMS identified that many of the risks of injury in this work were associated with the movement of equipment into and out of the vehicles.
RIMS worked collaboratively with the ABC technical staff to develop a prototype storage system in the rear of the vehicle that enabled the dedicated storage of different types of equipment in a way that provided security and best access. Large drawers were used to store most items while racks were installed to contain tripods and longer equipment.
The prototype was trialled and reviewed by camera crews and was found to be effective. All other vehicles were then fitted out with the same system. Over the following 18 month period lost time due to strains and sprains fell from approximeately 200 hours per year to less than 4 hours.
We acknowledge the excellent commitment and contribution of ABC technical staff in this collaborative approach.
One of the software tools developed by RIMS enables the rapid matching of suitable duties to a work injury. The introduction of this tool to Vodusek Meats in Cobram has enabled this remote abattoir to increase independence in managing work injuries and effectively deploying staff to suitable work while they recover from injury.
Vodusek Meats is able to develop a detailed plan of the duties to be performed, the appropriate work methods to be used and the time period for each task within 30 minutes of an injury being reported.
This rapid response and active management approach has enabled them to contain the effects of workplace injury and create a return to work culture for employees with work injuries.
There were extra spinoffs for Vodusek Meats brought about by the process RIMS undertook to evaluate work demands of all jobs in the abbettoir.There was increased reflection on the demands of each job. Staff have subsequently introduced improvements to the lines to reduce work demands and risk of injury.