The Top Workplace Killer in Western Australia

Western Australia’s work-related fatality incidence rate has an alarming equivalent to the national rate. In fact, during 2020-2021, there were 17  work-related fatalities in Western Australia, with an average of fatal injuries in a work-related incident every 21 days. In addition, being hit by falling objects is one of the most common mechanisms of incident with 33 work-related fatalities comprising 19% of total work-related fatalities in Western Australia at present.

Mining is the third leading industry (23% overall) when it comes to work-related fatalities, especially in terms of fall risks and being hit by falling objects. The fatality frequency rate in the mining industry is the seventh highest of the 19 industry divisions. Despite that, since the mining industry works the second most hours of any industry in Western Australia, data does not relatively reflect the severity of the situation and only shows a low-frequency rate. To respond to this dilemma, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety established the State of the Work Environment (SOWE) series whose main objective is to promote awareness of occupational safety and health, especially in Western Australia. Fortified to aid with this cause, GRIPPS® prides itself on fostering a safe and healthy work environment by developing innovative solutions and a revolutionary range of products designed to help workers at heights like those in the mining industry prevent themselves from falling and resulting in dropped objects incidents.

Since 1993, GRIPPS has produced a diverse range of life-saving tool tethering products. In turn, we are able to actively provide drop prevention solutions in multiple industries such as construction, mining/resources, energy (wind turbine, nuclear), and rope access all over the world. Being an Australian company, GRIPPS regularly visit industrial sites throughout Western Australia. In doing so, GRIPPS maintains a close alliance with Western Australian workers, especially in the mining sector to better understand their working requirements, and habits and gain valuable feedback on products. Some of the products offered by GRIPPS® include tool connectors, tether anchors, tool tethers, tool belts and holsters, belt kits, and more drop prevention gear. 

Tethering tools serve as a preventative measure to help save lives. Effective tool tethering will help mitigate dropped object incidents, which otherwise could lead to injury or even the death of bystanders. 

Tool tethering is essential for anyone working four feet or higher above ground level, elevated above a coworker or sensitive objects, and moving equipment to and from raised areas. Effective tool tethering can mean both decreased rates of dropped tools and fewer difficulties that follow suit as a result of dropped object incidents. In fact, a study published in 2019 shows that ensuring a safe workplace can benefit both workers and business owners (Sorensen et al., 2019). Aside from improved health and well-being of the employees, greater productivity and higher performance are also reflected leading to increased job satisfaction.