Dunlop Flooring took out the Innovation Award for its fire prevention initiatives

The Dunlop Flooring Operations Team has been recognised for their success in reducing business risk, taking out the Innovation Award for its fire prevention initiatives at the recent Pacific Brands Cinderella Awards.

Dunlop Flooring went through quite a hot 2007 because contaminants in raw materials resulted in major fires in both manufacturing facilities. Faced with the most difficult time the business had experienced in its 30-year history, Pacific Brands resources were called upon.  The Safety Health Environment & Quality Team had the analytical, investigative and risk management resources and the Dunlop Flooring Team had the technical and business knowledge.

They joined forces to develop a system that could reduce or eliminate fire-causing contaminants and ensure that any future fires could be safely contained and extinguished quickly.

The system is the first of its kind and has generated international and national interest from the manufacturing industry and fire departments about its design, operation and maintenance.

The estimated cost to the business of each fire was $200,000, but since the new system was introduced in 2007 - there has not been a single fire incident.