Injury leads to innovation for Auckland man
After a workplace accident leading to plastic surgery, Pieter Muller designed a system that could revolutionise the safety industry.
A workplace accident ending in plastic surgery gave one man an idea to revolutionise the safety industry.
Auckland man Pieter Muller has designed a product that uses Bluetooth technology to ensure people are wearing protective gear when they are using power tools.
“I worked with 30 guys in my factory and I couldn’t get the guys in the factory to wear their safety gear,” Muller said.
“So I came up with an idea that if you don’t wear your safety gear, your power equipment won’t work using Bluetooth technology. I built a sensor in the helmet, and once the helmet is in place on your face [your tool] will switch on. If the helmet is off, it’ll switch off.”
The idea came to Muller after a workplace accident when a blade broke on a grinder and cut him in the face.
Muller spent three days in hospital, undergoing three hours of surgery, and was off work for 10 days due to the injury.
“Six months after that I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress which they say was because of the accident that happened,” Muller said.
“I almost committed suicide, and was feeling sorry for myself, but with a lot of support from ACC and my bosses and my wife and family, they picked me up and I said ‘well, I need to give back’.”
Muller is also looking to apply the technology to life jackets and motorcycle helmets – if you are not wearing your jacket or helmet, the vessel will not start.
Muller has brought the prototype to exhibit in the Fieldays Innovations Center in the hope of gaining attention from investors.
“I’m just a designer. I’m not a businessman, I’m not a salesman, [and] I’m not an accountant so I’m expecting to get involved with people who can teach me that.”
