An impressive record in ensuring injured staff safely return to work has won UQ a highly competitive industry honour.
The 2009 Q-Comp Return to Work Award was presented to UQ Ergonomics & Rehabilitation Adviser Kris Fraser by the Honourable Cameron Dick, Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations on October 27.
Ms Fraser said that UQ's attainment of the award was a significant achievement as more than 500 entries had been received across the different categories.
Associate Director of UQ's Occupational Health and Safety Unit, Gary Chaplin, said the University had a 100% return to work rate for employees with compensable injuries, attributable to early and effective case management, effective ergonomics risk management procedures and the commitment of senior management to workplace health and safety.
He said UQ groups including the Occupational Health and Safety Unit, work injury management team and School of Civil Engineering had worked together to produce the outstanding results.
Meanwhile, a nifty UQ invention won a highly commended mention in the 2009 Work Safe Awards, which were presented at the same ceremony.
UQ staff member Martin Rhodes applied his knowledge of workplace health and safety when he designed the Ergo-bridge, which allows his colleagues to easily complete a common task: wheeling heavy trolleys into lifts.
The Ergo-bridge provides a platform over the gap between floor and lift that engages automatically when the lift doors are opened and makes it easier to manoeuvre book-laden trolleys by preventing the wheels getting caught in the gap.
Previously when this happened operators had to exert force to move heavily loaded trolleys.
"Martin's invention has provided a practical solution to a real workplace health and safety issue," said
Manager of Library Corporate Services Glen Dalgleish.
"The Ergo-bridge provides an effective and easy-to-implement solution to a particular problem."
Schindler Lifts has now incorporated the Ergo-bridge into the design of its book lift.
The Ergo-bridge was highly commended in the category of best solution to an identified workplace health and safety issue, and also received the 2009 UQ Safety Award.
Media: Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)
