Five representatives from the network receive the Working Environment Award 2011. The picture shows, from left: Alette Algren-Ussing and Allan S. Pedersen (Them Dairy), Nick Nørreby (Thise Dairy), Jørgen Mathiasen (Premier Ice Cream) and Ole Brander (Grøndal Dairy)

A network of 19 smaller dairies in Denmark has won the Working Environment Award 2011 in the category musculoskeletal disorders. The award was given on the basis of the network’s efforts to combat work-related ergonomic disorders. ALECTIA has participated in the projects and is behind the nomination of the network for the award.

The 30^th of November 2011 the Danish Working Environment Council gave away the prestigious Working Environment Award for the sixth year in a row. The award is given in the four categories: industrial accidents, musculoskeletal disorders, psychosocial work environment and strategic work environment. The winner of the year was “the Work Environment Network for smaller dairies”. The network includes 19 Danish dairies, which produces milk and milk products, different types of cheese, cheese powder, ice cream, etc.  

In their report the Work Environment Council writes:

“The judges have paid attention to the structured, persistent and successful use of a network across small companies within one industry. Furthermore, the judges find that the use of “test dairies” with access of the other companies in the network has interesting perspectives”.

Joint action on ergonomic strains
The award is given as an appreciation of the network’s effort on ergonomic strains. Strains and attrition damages particularly affect smaller dairies where it is not always realistic to introduce new technology and automation.

“The Work Environment Network for smaller dairies” was established in recognition that smaller dairies often share the same ergonomic problems and challenges. Together with ALECTIA the network has worked on mapping and solving their common challenges in the period 2008-2011. This has resulted in the fact that the dairies today have a far greater knowledge of how to put down work-related ergonomic strains.     

Read more about the working environment project