Hot on the heels of its success on the ABC’s New Inventors program, Swan Hill business, Microw Developments, has been named a finalist in the WorkSafe Victoria Awards 2009. These awards recognise individuals and organisations that have made a significant contribution to improving health and safety in their workplace.

Also, Dandenong’s Dynamic Bracing Solutions is one of three finalists in the category Best Solution to a Health and Safety Risk for the development of the Lite-Weight Tilt Panel Brace, an innovative brace that reduces the risk of personal injury to construction workers. Precast concrete panels used in building construction must be braced securely and safely, yet conventional braces are heavy and difficult to manoeuvre, place and remove.

Microw Developments has been nominated for an Award in the category Best Solution for Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSI), which acknowledges an innovation or invention that eliminates or significantly reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Manual handling injuries account for about 60 per cent of all injuries in Victorian workplaces and are the subject of a WorkSafe advertising campaign now.

Microw Developments’ innovation is the Reo Jack, a purpose-built lever tool designed to take the strain out of lifting reinforcing mesh used in the concreting industry. The Reo Jack fits between the squares in steel mesh and is used to lift the squares to allow plastic brackets (called ‘bar chairs’) to be fitted before concrete is poured.

This work is normally done manually on construction sites, with workers squatting or bending to lift the heavy mesh. It is repetitive and cannot be avoided. Without the Reo Jack construction workers are at risk of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly to the back, shoulders and arms, and crushing injuries to the hands and fingers.

While a concreter must still bend to place the bar chair, the Reo Jack reduces the physical exertion needed to lift the steel mesh. This makes the task safer by significantly reducing the risk of back strain and crush injuries. Microw Developments was selected from 118 applications received from across the state.

Dynamic Bracing Solutions' innovative brace is designed and manufactured in Australia. The Lite-Weight Tilt Panel Brace’s lightweight aluminium design is 33 per cent lighter than current steel braces while still meeting strict industry standards for strength. The lighter weight significantly reduces the risk of sprains and strains from lifting, placement and removal of braces. A further benefit is that the ease of handling can lead to increased efficiency for precast construction.

The new design features a patented dual action foot, which allows alternative anchor points to be chosen. This reduces the amount of rotation needed to extend the brace when installing it. The brightly colour-coded body helps identify the correct brace grading and ensures the braces are highly visible when installed. The Lite-Weight Tilt Panel Brace is a significant OHS improvement on traditional bracing systems.

The WorkSafe Victoria Awards are a highlight of Work Safe Week, which runs from 26 to 30 October 2009.