Improving Safety at Alcoa

PROJECT:

Phone Booth for Alcoa of Australia

INDUSTRY TYPE:

Resources

CLIENT:

Programmed Electrical Technologies

LOCATION:

Kwinana WA

Initial project requirements:

Alcoa is a world-leading producer of Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium. The Australian operations represent one of the world largest integrated bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminium smelting systems.

Mid last year Alcoa of Australia was experiencing problems with corrosion of telecommunication equipment across three refineries but particularly within the Kwinana Refinery.

Alcoa engaged Programmed Electrical Technologies Perth to help devise a solution to stop the emergency telephones from getting damaged in the caustic environment. Once the corrosion issue was sorted, the operators had trouble hearing the call over the noise of operations. Programmed Electrical then approached Flexshield to design and manufacture an acoustic telephone box.

Project challenges:

The acoustic enclosure had to be visible, easily accessible, and most importantly – anti-corrosive!

Stainless steel Flexshield phone booth for Alcoa.

Flexshield solution:

Programmed Electrical Technologies selected Flexshield due to our extensive experience with the mining, oil and gas industry in conjunction with our willingness to think outside of the box to create fully custom-made solutions.

The process to design the solution was only achieved by constant communication between Flexshield and the client. We worked together to make sure the enclosure suited the needs of the end-user (Alcoa) noting easy installation was necessary. The end solution was stainless steel powder-coated phone enclosure lined with Sonic Sorber acoustic foam. The design included a bench for employee notetaking and shielded the employee from the weather.

The addition of the acoustic phone booths made an immediate difference to the operations for the facility. The operator stated that the phone calls were more apparent and understandable – meaning the loss of valuable information no longer occurred.

Feedback from the site was:

“The booths were easily installed, work flawlessly as we expected and helped towards the goal of Zero Harm and Zero Lost Time Injury’s”.