Mack and Boral partner for safety

Mack Trucks Australia has worked with Boral Logistics to incorporate a range of safety upgrades in the latter's Granite tipper and dog models

Boral Logistics has collaborated with Mack to significantly enhance the safety of its fleet of Mack Granite tipper-and-dog trucks.

The upgrades, made with the assistance of Mack's local design team, include a new step design, new grab handles, better illumination and the addition of a new platform from which drivers can carry out pre-trip fluid inspections.

The changes have been officially recognised by Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA), with Boral receiving a nomination for the body's upcoming NSW Environment Health & Safety Awards 2014.

According to the Vice President for Mack Trucks Australia, Dean Bestwick, the revisions stemmed from Boral conducting a review of its workplace injuries.

"Boral did a comprehensive review of its incident and injury data," he says.

"It discovered that the main cause of injury in its logistics business was drivers getting in and out of their trucks. It got in touch with us and our design team worked closely with the Boral drivers and operations team to help it re-design the cab entry points."

The Operations Manager at Boral Logistics, Rob Waghorn, says the new steps in particular – which required a repositioning of the fuel tank – have made a big difference.

"The new mount has three steps instead of two," he says.

"They’re twice the normal width, raked forward and coated in safety-yellow, non-slip material."

There are now grab handles mounted on the inside of the door, on the A-pillar and outside the cab, while a strip of LEDs helps illuminate the ground beneath the steps. The platform, meanwhile, sits between the front bumper and the tyre, and gives drivers a solid place to stand. Previously drivers had been standing on the truck's tyres to perform the necessary checks.

"The result is a massive ergonomic improvement that has been instantly recognised and appreciated by all the drivers," says Waghorn.

"They now feel safe and confident doing under-bonnet fluid checks even in wet conditions."

The modifications have now been taken up by two other major road freight specialists: Hanson and Toll.

The recent CCAA nomination is the latest of many relating to Mack products in recent years. Mr Bestwick says it underlines the manufacturer's commitment to safety.

"Being nominated for awards like these is a great tribute, not only to the innovation and hard work of the Mack design team, but to the benefits of working closely in partnership with customers like Boral who genuinely take safety seriously," he says.

"This was a team effort between two organisations who firmly believe they have a duty to bring drivers home safely. We’re proud to see our progress in this important area being recognised."

The CCAA NSW Environment Health & Safety Awards 2014 will be presented on Friday, August 1.

Mack and Boral partner for safety

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