The new $30million Wolf Blass winery in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, has been presented with the "Safe Design Award" at the 2001 Workcover Corporation Safe Work Awards.
The safe design award is awarded annually for a South Australian design or invention, which will have a significant and positive impact on safer work practises.
Alan Edward, General Manager Production at Wolf Blass said, "We are delighted to receive this award, because it acknowledges the value of adapting traditional winemaking techniques to eradicate inherent health and safety risks."
Alan and his team of engineers had the opportunity to design the new winery's operating processes from the ground up, selecting equipment and practises to offer the best in winemaking flexibility, efficiency, environmental protection and safety. The result is a winery which has eradicated previously necessary but hazardous tasks in the winemaking process. This has been achieved by the introduction of stainless steel open fermenters, a revolutionary pre-programmable crane and new workplace practises.
The use of the pre-programmed crane has eliminated the practice of manually shovelling wet marc out of the tank into the press. The crane locates the fermenter, picks it up and tips the wet marc into the press, removing the risk of employee injuries from slips, falls and the manual handling of large hoses and pipes.
There is also no longer a need to work within a confined space when 'digging out' skins from the bottom of the fermenter.
Community issues have also been a focus throughout the design and development of the winery. All the crushing, de-stemming, fermentation and pressing equipment used in the winery have been made in Australia. All wastewater generated by the winery will be treated and reused by the local golf course for irrigation.
Further information:
Simon Blacket
Mob: 0417 879 858
