Expertise:

  • Heavy lifting

Benefits:

  • Increased safety

  • Optimized schedule

Location:

  • Australia

Mammoet Australia, a branch of the global leader in engineered heavy lifting and transport, has introduced Hands-Free Lifting across its operations to enhance workplace safety. The implemented work practice aims to reduce the risk of hand and finger injuries during the handling of suspended loads and equipment under tension, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Traditionally, handling suspended loads or maneuvering items during release and pretensioning has involved significant manual intervention, posing risks to workers and potential for human error. Hands-Free Lifting, which includes the use of taglines and push-pull sticks of varying lengths and designs, directly addresses these challenges. It avoids direct contact with suspended loads while they are connected to lifting devices. 

The push /pull sticks can be used to adjust the position and orientation of loads without the need for hands-on manipulation, keeping workers at a safe distance.

 

 

They also allow for taglines to be retrieved remotely, which is ideal to avoid walking into the drop zone. Their versatility in application and adaptability to various industries and lifting scenarios ensure a safer working environment.  

The implementation of this work practice began in early 2023 at Mammoet's yards and project sites in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.  Since then, it has become standard across all Mammoet Australia operations, underscoring the company’s commitment to safety.

The adoption of these practices allows employees to focus on essential tasks without compromising safety, thereby minimizing the risk of accidents and injuries and ultimately reducing downtime and increasing productivity.

Ryan Binedell, SHEQ Manager at Mammoet Australia, commented: "It is our priority to advance the industry's safe practices. While the use of hands-free lifting tools isn't new to the industry, it's often been seen as optional and utilized when convenient. Elimination and substitution are the most accessible and effective control measures in hazard management. So we aim to integrate hands-free lifting from the outset of any task where the use of hands can be avoided. By challenging the use of hands, we enhance planning and highlight SIMOPS risks, which we then mitigate through a planned approach to a lift and installation."