Cannonvale business Soft Rigging Solutions nominated for community achievement award

Motivated by a tragic mining accident, a Whitsunday tradie has used his knowledge of sailing to create a unique product that’s now up for a major award.

Cannonvale's Josh and Natasha Leppard won a 2019 Mining Innovation Award for their business Soft Rigging Solutions. Picture: Supplied

As a first responder to fatal mining accident, Cannonvale’s Josh Leppard knew there had to be a better way to get around the worksite than lugging heavy steel equipment.

The competitive sailor and his wife Natasha have built a business around developing lightweight alternatives to rigging equipment required on many worksites, and it is now nominated for a statewide award.

Mr Leppard was inspired to do something when a bulldozer rolled at a mine site he was working at on New Year’s Eve 2018.

As he and others rushed to retrieve the machine, he had to climb over a steep embankment carrying 58kg steel shackles, putting themselves at risk of injury.

The tragic incident inspired him to put his sailing knowledge to use to invent the lightweight Poseidon Shackle, made from a synthetic fibre that is four times lighter than the equivalent rated steel shackle, floats on water, and weight for weight is 15 times stronger than steel.

Alliara Leppard holding a synthetic, light-weight coupling her dad developed to replace a 110kg alternative used at QLD mine sites. Picture: Supplied

Mr Leppard’s invention is now being used across Australia, including on tugboats in Weipa, NSW rail, Thredbo rescue, Tasmanian salmon farms and in the mining sector, reducing the risks associated with heavy lifting and manual handling and eliminating the potential of injury or even death from the release of stored energy.

In recognition of these achievements, the Leppards’ business, which is still in its infancy, has been nominated for the 2021 Queensland Community Achievement Awards, in the category acknowledging outstanding safety initiatives.

The awards will be announced later this year, while the Leppards’ long term goal is to continue developing new products that meet the safety needs of a diverse market.

They are currently working on a new product to solve safety issues at Western Australian mine sites after being approached by a company supplying BHP.

Originally published as Cannonvale business Soft Rigging Solutions nominated for community achievement award