Continual improvement at Worsley Alumina

We’re always looking at ways to improve how we work so that we can make sure everyone goes home safe and well at the end of every shift.

At Worsley Alumina in Western Australia, we have successfully rolled out a new initiative aimed at improving safety in the calcination system.

Calciners are large, gas-fuelled appliances used to process and convert alumina hydrate into alumina. 

Previously, operators had to use a five-metre-long, high pressure ‘air-lance’ to remove blockages in the calcination system - something which was identified as a health and safety risk due to the potential high pressure and heat exposure.

To mitigate the risk, a new, fully automated solution to undertake this work was identified and deployed. The new initiative has now enabled the task to be completed remotely from inside the control room and will be replicated across each calciner currently in operation at Worsley Alumina.