BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal's (BMC) Poitrel Mine has recently introduced 'Nudgies', a range of wristbands designed to 'nudge' wearers to think about safety with regards to priority rules.

Nudgies come from the Nudge Concept in behavioural science, political theory and economics which proposes positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions as ways to influence the behaviour and decision making of groups of individuals.

Jayson Smeeton, Manager Mine Production Poitrel, said that he wanted the team to think outside of the box when it came to safety and a 'nudge' makes it more likely that an individual will make a particular choice by altering the environment so that automatic cognitive processes are triggered to favour the desired outcome.

"To create the "nudge" we have created four safety slogans printed on wristbands which will be given to all Production operators at the start of each month," Jayson said.

"Bands are to be worn on the left hand to 'nudge' the thinking of giving away to their left. This comes from the Priority Rules Nudge Theory."

"This is their commitment to personnel safety from October to January during through the Christmas and school holiday period where many people can become distracted.