2007 SRCC Workplace Safety Awards

The Amphibious and Afloat Support Group (AASG) was created in March 2000 to manage the capability of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Amphibious and Afloat Support Force Elements. AASG ships provide amphibious lift and support to land forces (Amphibious units) and afloat tactical logistics. They are also actively engaged in a broad range of national tasking, including evacuation operations, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and peace support operations.

Boarding mechanisms for Australian naval ships were identified as a health and safety issue for Navy personnel during recent operation. Whilst boarding party operation are not new to RAN units, vessels with high freeboard where personnel are unable to step aboard, presented a risk to the safety of staff.
Equipment including caving ladders and other manufactured designs were used in an attempt to resolve the issue. However, the equipment used contributed to the risk as it did not conform to any particular Australian standard, nor was it tested and approved for the required working load strength.

Utilising the RAN's Risk Management Process, hazards associated with the activity were identified and analysed. Data from OHS incident reports was also reviewed and this indicated a high number of incidents and injuries that were directly attributed to boarding party personnel falling off ladders.

In a proactive response to the problem, Warrant Officer Bosun Tom Hodges developed a blueprint for the boarding ladder. Working with Beaver Sale Pty Ltd to take the project to concept phase, three prototypes were developed from the original designs and subjected to rigorous testing. A baseline design was then refined to make further improvements before testing the ladder at sea. Over a period of three-and-a-half years the ladder was trialled and tested under both training and some operational conditions.

The subsequent feedback from testing reported that the ladder was capable of meeting the necessary requirements of the Navy. It was then formally introduced to the service as a standard operational tool and no further incident have occurred since its inception.

Currently the NSW Water Police, NSW Tactical Response Group, Tasmanian Water Police, WA Water Police, QLD Water Police, Customs and SA Fisheries all utilise the ladder.

The SASR is a Special Forces element of the Australian Army, responsible for the operations in support of the Australian Defence Force mission to promote the security of Australia's people and interests.

CAPT. Sharryn Batt is a registered nurse and has served in the Preventative Health Department at Special Operations Command, Campbell Barracks in Western Australia for five years, as both a civilian and an Army Reservist. CAPT. Batt provides health care and support to all members of the SAS regiment at this base.

The awareness of the health issues associated with inorganic lead exposure has increased, and legislation applying to the management of the health risks has become more rigorous over time. Engineering controls including improvements to the forced ventilation systems have been introduced progressively in the indoor weapons facilities to reduce the exposure of personnel to the hazard. A health surveillance program has been in place for over ten years that relies on periodic testing of blood lead levels of range users.

CAPT. Batt has been involved with the inorganic lead hazard for close to two years. As a personal initiative, she conducted a review of the blood testing program to determine if an effective monitoring, review and counselling process was in place. Her review found serious deficiencies.

CAPT. Batt developed an education program covering personal risk management of lead to raise awareness and inform exposed personnel of the health risk, and how to reduce exposure. By informing personnel and improving protective measures as well as testing procedures, the management of the safety issue could be greatly improved.

The program developed by CAPT. Batt empowered personnel to become responsible for their health and individual risk management by providing strategies to reduce risk. The process combines all lead risk control measures into an integrated package including the development of warning posters and information brochures. She also delivered formal presentations for personnel as well as managing all testing fort the base to ensure a reduction in lead levels occurs.