OP Tools app wins 3M Health and Safety Award
Otago Polytechnic has won the 3M Award for Innovation in Health and Safety for an iPhone and iPad application it has developed called OP Tools. The interactive app uses video, text and audio to demonstrate the correct and safe way to operate different power tools and other equipment.
OP Tools was developed by third-year IT students Nolan Ratu, Taua Piri, Anton Smith and Matt Nolan with guidance from staff, and is being used as a learning aid for carpentry students at the Polytechnic's School of Architecture, Business and Engineering. Further work is being done to apply the app to schools and programmes within the Polytechnic.
Otago Polytechnic Senior Advisor Health, Safety and Wellbeing, Terry Buckingham, is delighted with the win. "It is really encouraging to be recognised for our hard work in helping to improve and promote health and safety. This app is very exciting and has considerable potential to be adapted for use in some of our other programmes, and even outside the Polytechnic," he says. "Awards like this serve to motivate people to take a proactive stance when it comes to modernising health and safety, which can only benefit workers and workplaces across New Zealand."
Otago Polytechnic received a $3000 cash prize from 3M in recognition of its innovation.
Group General Manager of 3M Safety, Security and Protection Service, Saya Wahrlich, says OP Tools epitomises what the award is all about. "The judging panel was very impressed with Otago Polytechnic's use of technological advancements in the field of health and safety which makes a significant difference to the wellbeing of the people it works with."
This is the second major national award for OP Tools. It was one of three iPhone and iPad apps that won Otago Polytechnic the NZ Microsoft Innovation Award in the Business in Higher Education category at the 2011 Tertiary ITC Conference earlier this year.