Pictured: (left to right) Rio Tinto Weipa’s physiotherapist Christian Wakeling and Health, Safety & Environment manager Melissa Winks, who were instrumental in the programme’s success, accept the 2015 Health Programme Award.

OREANDA-NEWS. A safety programme at Rio Tinto’s bauxite mine in Far North Queensland has received state-wide recognition for its success in reducing body strains and injuries.

Rio Tinto Weipa’s manual handling programme received the Health Programme Award at the annual Queensland Mining Industry Health & Safety Conference held in Townsville.

The programme identifies and improves 30 manual handling tasks each year to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Rio Tinto general manager, Weipa Operations, Gareth Manderson said “Rio Tinto is pleased to receive state recognition for our manual handling programme.

“We are always striving to find new ways of working more safely and this programme is a great example of our people putting safety first.

“The programme has significantly reduced injuries at site, contributing to a reduction of our All Injury Frequency Rate from 0.97 at year-end 2012 to 0.47 at the end of last year.

“It has also helped to deliver a year-on-year reduction in hand and finger injuries, and sustained reduction in the rate of musculoskeletal injuries.

“The programme was designed and delivered by our team at Weipa and this award is a testament to their commitment to a zero harm workplace.”

This award follows Rio Tinto Weipa’s health and safety success at last year’s Conference, where the operation won the Health & Safety Innovation Award for a hydraulic valve opening tool.