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Workers the stars in safety campaign

Cement Concrete Aggregates Australia (CCAA) have assisted New South Wales Trade & Investment and the Mine Safety Advisory Council (MSAC) in the development of resources to ensure workers understand the issues. 
In April last year, videos and posters using the site-based component concept of workers as the task experts were filmed at Boral?s Peat Ridge Quarry at the NSW Central Coast. The ?stars? of the production were real quarry workers from different companies including Boral, Hanson, Holcim, Benedict Industries and Metromix. 
With the help of several site ?champions?, supervisors and managers, the program identified the quarries? gut-busting activities and then used the hierarchy of controls to reduce the hazardous manual components.  
This ergonomics program engages with quarry workers and aims to cut down on the $7 million annual cost of musculoskeletal injuries.
Holistic program
The department is co-ordinating several programs around the state, including a successful program at Benedict Quarries, Sydney, which resulted in reduced risks of injuries as well as increased production.
The holistic program encompasses key ergonomic principals and a strong communication strategy while taking the message to grass roots level with the tagline ?Speak up, don?t make yourself bloody useless?. 
Based on research carried out by Cat.Dog Research and Creative, the message supports the site-based program and includes a range of videos and posters of NSW quarry workers encouraging their fellow workers to get involved and speak up about hazardous manual tasks.
NSW Mine Safety is now co-ordinating with the IQA?s NSW Central West sub-branch to conduct a regional ergonomics program. This event consists of six sessions which began in February and includes courses for quarries in the Lithgow, Orange and Dubbo areas. 
Sources: Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia, NSW Trade & Investment, Mine Safety Advisory Council

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