By Michael Rienerth, BWC Ergonomics Technical Advisor
Innovation is happening all around us! Take for example this article about the Cleveland Clinic summarizing the top 10 medical innovations for 2016. Innovation can take many forms – including new equipment, processes, methods or technology and can involve anything from an incremental change to a revolutionary new way of doing things. It’s constantly changing our lives in many exciting ways – especially in our workplaces. Ohio’s business leaders know that innovation is essential for remaining competitive in the world today – and that includes keeping employees safe and healthy.
One way BWC is helping to foster innovativeness in the area of occupational injury/illness prevention is by sponsoring an annual Safety Innovations Competition. The competition encourages employers to share innovations that have reduced safety, ergonomic and occupational health risks for employees.
A panel of safety, ergonomics and industrial hygiene specialists from the BWC Division of Safety & Hygiene recently reviewed applications for the 2016 competition. The applications were scored on the following criteria: risk reduction, innovativeness, cost savings and potential impact.
We’re pleased to announce the semi-finalists for the 2016 Safety Innovations Competition.
| Ashland Inc. | Dublin, Ohio | Ergonomics Kaizen Process |
| AWP, Inc. | Kent, Ohio | Contractor Grade Bedslide |
| City of Cuyahoga Falls | Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio | Underground Cable Puller |
| Cooper Farms Feed & Animal | Fort Recovery, Ohio | Hog Loader |
| Midmark Corp | Versailles, Ohio | Automatic Guided Carts |
| Northcoast Recycling Specialist | Wickliffe, Ohio | Hydraulic Core Stripper |
| Nucor Steel Marion, Inc. | Marion, Ohio | R-Factor Rolling Process |
| Tri America Contractors, Inc. | Wheelersburg, Ohio | Pipe Fabrication Transporter Safety |
| Whitacre Greer Co. | Alliance, Ohio | Bin Area Material Feed Air Cannons |
Congratulations to the semi-finalists! We’ll pay each of them a visit to further evaluate the innovations and then we’ll select five finalists that will attend the BWC Safety Congress and Expo March 9-11, 2016 at the Columbus Convention Center.
They’ll present their innovations to a panel of independent judges and awards will be presented during a ceremony on March 10. Good luck to all the semi-finalists!
We want to hear about your innovations! Comment below and let us know how your business is being innovative to reduce risks.
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