Safety Strategies

Our Approach

ResourceCo aims to excel in resource recovery by transforming construction and demolition waste into reuseable product. In an effort to continually improve our operations, we acknowledge the importance of creating a positive environment that is safe for employees, contractors and customers alike.

At ResourceCo we hold the health and safety of our staff in the highest regard and believe that all workplace injuries are preventable. By employing a pro-active approach towards hazard management, our company has successfully reduced the number of Lost Time Injuries over the last four years. We continue to look at new and innovative ways to help reduce the risk of workplace incidents as we work towards our goal of 0 Lost Time Injuries.

Our actions are guided by the ResourceCo Occupational Health & Safety Policy.

ResourceCo aims to provide our clients with the best available product in a manner that is safe and has a minimal impact on the environment.

Performance

Since 2004 the number of reportable incidents has steadily declined. We have also seen a significant decline in the number of workplace accidents, with the number of Lost Time Injuries decreasing by 84%.

This success has been driven from all levels of our business, as we strive to minimize health and safety risks within our operating environment.

Hazard Management

Our business activities often include potentially hazardous tasks, including; the operation of plant machinery, conveyers, working at heights, moving vehicles and exposure to loud noise. As a team, ResourceCo approaches issues created by these conditions with a view to continuous improvement.

Dust Suppression

During 2008 we have taken a number of steps to reduce the amount of dust generated from both the concrete crushing plant as well as the Alternative Fuels venture.

Polo Citrus biodegradable foggers have been installed in order to keep dust particles wet for longer
Two water trucks patrol our sites to ensure the raw feed and road surfaces stay moist
A dust extraction system has been installed in the Alternative Fuels shed
Water spray systems have been installed to keep the product damp during processing

Plant Guarding

A complete review of guarding on all fixed plant was undertaken in 2008. Our guarding now meets with the Australian Standard and has ensured that all nip points, moving parts, tail and head drums are inaccessible without using the appropriate tools to remove guarding.

People

The people of ResourceCo are the secret of our success. Therefore we strive to ensure that each and every ResourceCo employee returns home injury free. To achieve this, ResourceCo will:

Conform to all relevant legislation and any other requirements
Ensure that all of its establishments have appropriate policies, procedures and facilities so that such standards can be achieved
Implement effective health and safety management and reporting systems
Apply the principles of continuous improvement to health and safety performance through measurable objectives and targets aimed at the elimination of work related injury and illness
Promote health and safety awareness and responsibility among all employees, suppliers and customers
Recognise the required commitment to the communication and consultation approach with all employees
Co-operate with all relevant health and safety agencies
Conduct regular reviews of conformance to requirements and achievement of objectives at Board level
Be available to interested parties

Communication with our staff through day-to-day conversation, toolbox and safety committee meetings is crucial in addressing staff safety concerns and facilitating a safety culture.

Asbestos Management

ResourceCo's EPA license states that we are unable to accept listed material such as hazardous substances, medical waste and asbestos.

The ResourceCo Asbestos Management Plan ensures that any material delivered to ResourceCo containing asbestos is identified and handled in a safe manner to prevent inclusion into the manufactured final products.

The ResourceCo Asbestos Management Plan outlines the actions taken by our company to eliminate the presence of asbestos in our products.

Customers

Customers are made aware of the materials and substances that ResourceCo do not accept by:

Notification during the initial stage of setting up their account
Prominent signage at the entrance to the site that ResourceCo does not accept liquid, hazardous, radioactive or listed wastes including asbestos
Signage at the weighbridge stating that ResourceCo does not accept materials containing asbestos
Dockets issued for each and every load stating that ResourceCo does not accept liquid, hazardous, radioactive or listed wastes including asbestos

Identification

The weighbridge is the first point of customer contact. All medium and high-risk loads are inspected using both a CCTV camera and an inspection platform. If any material is suspected of containing asbestos then the load is rejected
The traffic warden inspects all loads delivered to the processing stockpile when they are unloaded. High-risk loads are unloaded away from the main stockpile and spread out to allow a thorough inspection. If any material is identified the traffic warden alerts the weighbridge clerk with the offending vehicles registration number and the name of the company
The Asbestos Control Safe Operating Procedure is implemented and the load is removed from the site

Processing

There are a number of methods used during the processing stages to identify materials containing asbestos.

The excavator operator looks for any suspected asbestos containing materials while preparing the concrete waste for processing
The crusher operator controls the material feed into the plant. All material is inspected at this point
As part of our process associated with the crushing plant, there are picking stations where staff visually scan and remove unwanted waste material on the transfer belt

ResourceCo provides a list of sites that accept asbestos to all customers that are rejected because of a contaminated load.