Congratulations to Casey McEvoy, ERA Operations and Maintenance team leader at Ranger Mine,  who has received the Rio Tinto Q4 Ground Breakers global award for safety.

The award recognises individuals across Rio Tinto sites world-wide that demonstrate innovation in the commitment to the safety of staff and mine production.

Casey designed and developed a new screen for the Brine Concentrator distribution plate which is used as part of the uranium oxide production process. He tested the screen design in a plant trial and then took the lesson’s learnt to improve the concept before final implementation.

The new protection screens have eliminated scale fragments from entering the distribution plates, eliminating the critical risks involved with intervention and clearing of blockages.

The new protection screen has improved personal and process safety and plant utilisation at Ranger Mine with savings of almost A$1 million a year and approximately 18 days of downtime.