South Australia’s City of Onkaparinga has developed an adjustable joystick mounting and armrest for its garbage collection trucks. This has dramatically reduced occupational health and safety risks.
Onkaparinga is South Australia’s largest Local Government serving a diverse resident population of around 147,000 people. It covers an area of approximately 518 square kilometres. A population of this size generates a lot of garbage. Over 10,000 domestic waste collections occur daily.
Drivers of single operated garbage trucks were experiencing a number of problems, including tendonitis, to their arms and wrists from the operation of a fixed joystick control. This has led to a number of Work Cover claims.
Occupational therapist, Jan Docking, found the joysticks to be ineffective, as their fixed position did not allow for different body sizes. A lack of armrests also meant that operators were required to keep their arms outstretched and unsupported for long periods during the day.
Macdonald Johnson, one of Australia’s largest manufacturers of garbage trucks, designed an adjustable mounting system for the joysticks and an adjustable armrest.
After some fine tuning and three prototypes later, a final version was installed in one truck. After positive feedback from the drivers in the collection team, all collection vehicles were fitted with new adjustable joysticks and armrests.
The project was completed three years ago with a total of 11 adjustable armrests and eight joysticks installed. Since the installation no further directly associated health problems have been reported. The initiative has led Macdonald Johnson to include the improved components as a standard feature of all new single operated garbage trucks produced for both its home and export markets.
For further information, contact Sharon Stott, Waste and Recycling Promotions, on (08) 8384 0128.
