Winners by design
July 12th 2007 The BSIF's Product Innovation Awards 2007 proved an outstanding success with a record number of entries, innovative products and services, a new category of Award and delighted winners who recognise the marketing benefits the awards will bring to their companies.
The overall award winner was a safety knife submitted by Mure & Peyrot. This features an automatic retraction of the blade when the knife is not in use.
Another simple design feature is that the blade is locked, making it virtually impossible for accidents to occur, when the knife is not in use.
Surprised, yet delighted to be announced overall winner, Aurélie Corbrejaud, export manager, comments "We're very proud. We spent a lot of time developing this innovative solution. It's something that will reduce injuries as work.
The device is a simple, cheap way of checking noise levels to help prevent hearing loss and any subsequent ill-health injury claims. Oi emits 80 decibels (the level at which damage to hearing can start). If it can't be heard, then the surrounding noise is in excess of 80 decibels and action is needed.
Jane Jemmett comments "The product innovation award knocked me sideways.
Also an Award winner Postureminder is designed as a short-term training aid.
It brings state-of-the-art computer vision techniques to the everyday problem of sitting correctly. The small device is positioned on the top of the monitor and views the operator. It is programmed to provide screen prompts if and when the person's posture slumps.
The company is keen to point out that the device only records and processes posture-related data.
Dr Philip Worthington, MD, was very enthusiastic about the award. He says "We spent a long time developing the product and this will give us a tremendous boost in terms of getting recognition." Submitted by Total Access (UK), the Total Access Rescue Genie was also an Award winner. In addition to being easily portable, it uses a telescopic pole to locate the person in need of rescue. This, coupled with a special hook and pull mechanism, ensures swift and easy attachment of the lever ratchet mechanism to the casualty.
A few strokes from the winch will have a casualty raised to their attachment point, released from their original safety line and quickly lowered to safety.
The overall winner was RPS Laboratories. The company offers Fit Test provision for users of respiratory protection. With an outstanding score from customers and unsolicited comments such as 'I would have no hesitation in recommending this company' and 'Probably the best organisation we deal with', the BSIF concluded that customer service is clearly core to this business.
A Highly Commended Award went to Charles Owen, a company that offers a range of items, including safety products, to the horse riding market. Customer scores were excellent, with exceptionally high scores in the 'personal contact' category (ie by telephone and personal visit).
Also highly commended, the McOnie Agency is a marketing organisation that works closely with the safety market. Its exceptional scores in service innovation were backed by excellent customer contacts.
Awards ceremony Winners were presented with their Awards by Sir John Cullen, President of the BSIF, chairman of the Judges, and former chair of the HSC. He said "We received a record number of entries this year and, as usual, it has been a difficult task to evaluate the entries.
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