Geographe's BSBIRT Recognised at the 2026 WorkSafe Awards

Geographe's Ball Stud Bearing Installation and Removal Tool (BSBIRT) has received a Certificate of Merit at Western Australia's 2026 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards. The recognition highlights an engineered approach to a familiar maintenance challenge: removing and installing steering arm bearings while keeping crews clear of pinch, crush and projectile hazards.

For your maintenance and safety teams, the story behind the recognition is practical. Geographe develops tooling around mine-site challenges, and the BSBIRT brings controlled hydraulic removal, setting and installation into a single system. The WorkSafe result follows the tool's recognition at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards earlier in 2026.

Key Takeaways: BSBIRT's WorkSafe Recognition

• Geographe received a Certificate of Merit for its Ball Stud Bearing Installation and Removal Tool at the 2026 WorkSafe Awards.
• The recognition acknowledges the Product Development Team, including Product Development Manager Nick Pyper, with the HSEQ team attending the event.
• The BSBIRT uses a controlled hydraulic procedure covering bearing removal, setting and installation to address specific steering maintenance risks.
• BHP was a joint category winner for larger organisations and acknowledged assistance with its Ball Stud Maintenance program.
• The Certificate of Merit follows the tool's recognition through the Excellence in Mine Safety, OH&S category at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards.

BSBIRT Receives a WorkSafe Certificate of Merit

The BSBIRT received a Certificate of Merit in the Best Solution to a Work Health and Safety Risk category for organisations with 199 employees or fewer. The 2026 awards program selected 29 finalists from 85 submissions, recognising responses to specific workplace health and safety problems.

Held at Optus Stadium on 27 October 2026, the awards brought together organisations working to improve safety across Western Australia. Our HSEQ team joined Product Development Manager Nick Pyper and the Product Development Team for the occasion.

The Certificate of Merit adds to the recognition of Geographe's engineering work, while keeping the focus on the maintenance crews the tooling is designed to support.

How the BSBIRT Controls Bearing Changeouts

The BSBIRT controls steering arm bearing changeouts through three stages: removal, setting and installation. Designed for haul trucks in the 785, 789 and 793 model range, the system gives your crew a defined procedure rather than relying on repeated manual impacts.

During removal, a capsule contains the worn bearing. During setting, the tool holds the new bearing and ball stud in position, helping keep hands clear of pinch and crush points. A built-in guidance system supports alignment as hydraulic pressure installs the assembly.

Geographe's Specialised Tooling addresses maintenance tasks through purpose-built equipment. For bearing work, that means controlling both the applied force and the component position throughout the changeout.

What Field Trials Showed About Maintenance Time

Geographe reported shorter maintenance times in Western Australian field trials when the BSBIRT was used with its Ball Stud Removal Tool (BSRT). Crews completed work on all four steering arms within one 12-hour shift, compared with two shifts previously.

Individual bearing replacements took approximately 15 minutes, compared with a previous process taking up to six hours. These are reported trial results from a Tier 1 miner, not a guaranteed duration for every site. Your equipment condition and maintenance arrangements remain relevant to planning.

BHP's Ball Stud Maintenance Program Also Recognised

BHP was a joint winner in the Best Solution to a Work Health and Safety Risk category for organisations with 200 employees or more. The Western Australian Government's award announcement names BHP's Ball Stud Maintenance entry alongside Alcoa of Australia's scale mill pump ergonomic improvement project.

We congratulate BHP on the result and thank the team for acknowledging Geographe's assistance with its Ball Stud Maintenance program. BHP's category win and our Certificate of Merit are distinct recognitions within the same awards program.

Building on the 2026 Prospect Awards Win

The WorkSafe Certificate of Merit follows Geographe's Excellence in Mine Safety, OH&S win at the 2026 Australian Mining Prospect Awards. Both results bring attention to tooling developed around safer, more consistent maintenance.

The BSBIRT also earned a finalist place in the Exceptional Innovation in Mining category at GRX26. These milestones recognise the development work without replacing the practical question your crew needs answered: how does the tool change the task?

Discuss Your Bearing Maintenance Challenge

Geographe develops engineered maintenance solutions by working with customers on their equipment challenges. For steering arm bearing changeouts, the BSBIRT provides a controlled process that addresses component containment, positioning and installation alignment.

To discuss suitability for your mine site or workshop, review the BSBIRT product information and complete the enquiry form. Our team can discuss your application and the maintenance challenge you want to address.

FAQs About BSBIRT and the WorkSafe Awards

Did Geographe win the WorkSafe category?

Geographe received a Certificate of Merit, rather than a category win. Its BSBIRT entry was in the Best Solution to a Work Health and Safety Risk category for organisations with 199 employees or fewer. BHP was a joint winner in the larger-organisation category.

What does the BSBIRT do?

Geographe's BSBIRT removes, sets and installs steering arm bearings using a controlled hydraulic process. The system contains the worn bearing during removal, holds components for setting, and guides alignment during installation. It is designed for haul trucks in the 785, 789 and 793 model range.

How is BSBIRT different from BSRT?

Geographe's BSRT releases seized ball studs, while the BSBIRT handles bearing removal, setting and installation. The two tools address different tasks within steering maintenance. Reported Western Australian field trials used the tools together, so the combined shift-saving result should be understood in that context.