Let’s give hand injuries the finger

In 2023, Oaky Creek Coal’s (OCC) safety performance data showed 70% of injuries were hand-related.

“We stopped and did a safety reset in an effort to understand what was happening,” said Clint Cody, Production Manager at Oaky Creek Coal. “We recognised that our usual safety measures weren’t cutting through, so we had to think outside the box and do something different.”

OCC engaged Light & Shade Media, a content production company, who came up with the idea of a multi-sensory campaign called ‘Give Hand Injuries the Finger’.

“The aim is to encourage the workforce to have a plan for their hand safety, not just a plan for the work itself,” explained Clint.

“It’s a multi-sensory campaign including posters with punchy slogans. At the heart of the campaign are multi-coloured work gloves.”

“Our work gloves typically come in a single colour, so we don’t really give them a second thought. The new colours (including pink, green, orange, and yellow) help trigger the brain and bring focus to the hands.”

After months of planning and development, the campaign kicked off in early February with Clint presenting to the workforce.

“I really wanted to engage the entire team and get them talking about the various hazards that exist for hands, and brainstorming what safety controls can be put in place. It was a group effort which resulted in some really valuable discussions and ideas.”

As part of the campaign, Clint is encouraging the workforce to come up with different styles of gloves that will help prevent incidents. Each month, the best innovation will be rewarded with a Party Crib (pizza, etc.) for them and their crew. And the best innovation for the whole year will be sent to the annual industry safety conference in Queensland.

At the end of February, renowned speaker and hand-injury survivor, Theo Venter, spoke to all OCC North and Surface employees at a series of training days.

As he was working on live power poles, about 11 metres in the air, Theo was trying to replace an insulator but couldn’t get the nut undone. He was faced with a decision: take the time to stop and reassess his risks and come up with another plan, or remove his protective insulated gloves for just a second and remove the nut.

As Theo writes on his website: “I removed my gloves and moments later I found myself being exposed and uncontrollably contorted by the beast. Boiling up from the inside with over 1,000 amps rushing into my left arm, through all my soft organs and heart and out my right wrist onto the steel cross-arm. I lost consciousness after being hooked on for at least 2 1/2 seconds, and my lifeless body dropped straight down into the bottom of the basket.”

Theo is the only person known to have survived 22,000 volts and 1,200 amps through the heart and lived to see another day.

“Theo’s story really touched a nerve,” said Clint. “He spoke for two hours and all 120 people in the room were on the edge of their seats for the whole time. Everyone was fully immersed in his experience and could easily see how it could happen to them. It certainly serves as a wakeup call and a reminder to stay focused on even the smallest of details.”

Given the amount of positive feedback received following his presentation, Theo has been invited back to do some workshops on hand safety for the whole workforce later in the year.

Empowering Workers to STOP

“Obviously this campaign is specifically targeted at reducing hand injuries, but the message is applicable to everything we do,” explained Clint. “We want the workforce to feel empowered to stop if something is not right, and to put controls in place before continuing.

“As a team and as individuals, we all have the power to stop. If you don’t have the right tool, the right resources, the right plan or the right controls in place to ensure your safety, and that of your team, then STOP.”

Importantly, Clint hopes the message will reach home to the families and friends of the Oaky Creek Coal workforce.

“Oaky Creek – Tieri – is a community, so to all the partners and families who read this, please remind your loved ones to wear their PPE, to put the safety controls in place, and to stop if something isn’t right…even if it’s just a feeling. Together, I know we can give hand injuries the finger.”