BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG is a leader in the development and production of drive systems for the leisure and powersports sector. The product portfolio ranges from innovative Rotax four-stroke and two-stroke high-performance engines for carts, ski-doos, snowmobiles, sea-doos, Can-Am street and off-road vehicles to engines for sports aircraft. BRP-Rotax is also a pioneer in the field of alternative drive models - such as the first zero-emission snowmobile.
More than 1,700 employees work at the Gunskirchen site on innovative drive systems for the world market - including more than 100 apprentices in 8 different trades. The health of the more than 1,700 employees is a top priority for the management. Together with the prevention department of the AUVA regional office in Linz, optimal working conditions have been created in recent years.

"The positive statistics prove that Upper Austria's companies take employee protection seriously and also benefit from the cooperation with AUVA. For example, the number of workplace accidents in Austria has been reduced by 25% over the past 10 years. This means less human suffering, lower sickness rates in the companies and lower costs for the social insurance", summarizes Dr. Erhard Prugger, AUVA regional office chairman, at the press conference.

Healthy employees as a guarantee for success
"Mistakes are human and accidents unfortunately happen faster than you think. At Rotax, we clearly see our role as an employer in taking care of the health and safety of our employees. Ensuring that all our colleagues return home safely to their families every evening has always been our top priority. In addition to the necessary technical safety precautions and appropriate protective equipment, training courses, information exchange and good cooperation with external experts play a particularly important role," explains Dr. Wolfgang Rapberger, MBA, General Manager BRP-Rotax / Representative of the Management Board, Vice-President Global Sourcing & Operations Powertrain.

Intensive cooperation with AUVA: unbureaucratic and practical
The offers of the AUVA regional office in Linz are gladly and regularly accepted at BRP-Rotax in Gunskirchen. In concrete terms, work has recently been done on the introduction of protective goggles, which can now be used to prevent eye injuries as far as possible. A joint health week is also planned for June 2023, where there will be, for example, an information stand on the subject of skin protection and many specialist consultations. Last year, 13 BRP-Rotax employees were trained by the AUVA Linz regional office to become safety officers, and further training courses are already being planned for the fall. In terms of noise, the company relies on noise acoustics measurements by AUVA and the so-called "noise bus". Of course, there are also extensive consultations and seminars, such as the "Safety First" seminar for group leaders with lectures on occupational safety or the AUVA consultation on rotating tools. "For years, we have had a reliable partner in AUVA, which advises us on all safety issues and trains our managers. As a result, we were also able to further improve our accident statistics in the workplace last year as part of the Rotax safety initiative 'Mission Zero'," adds Wolfgang Rapberger.

"Our prevention experts cover all specialist areas, from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and chemistry to occupational medicine, ergonomics, and industrial and organizational psychology. In addition to their technical know-how, they have extensive experience from the companies and pass this on. However, knowledge is only useful if it is implemented and applied in the company. For this reason, practical relevance and joint discussions are very important to us during consultations and training sessions. Our goal is that the employees take the acquired prevention knowledge and safety awareness home with them," explains Mag. Marina Pree-Candido, AUVA regional director. "BRP-Rotax is a model company in terms of prevention work and safety concepts, which is also appreciated by the employees, as evidenced by the low accident figures," concludes Marina Pree-Candido.