Inspirational and effective leadership and innovation in the delivery of health and safety in the UK mineral products sector took centre stage yesterday at the
Chief executives and other senior figures from Mineral Products Association (MPA) members were among over 280 delegates, from more than 60 organisations, restating their Zero Harm pledge on health and safety during the sell-out event at 30 Euston Square, London, England. The renewed commitment to Zero Harm coincided with the launch of the MPA’s ‘Safer and Healthier by Leadership’ program.
Hosted by BBC Presenter Sybil Ruscoe, the morning’s opening address was delivered by Simon Vivian, chairman of the MPA. Keynote conference speakers were Jesús Ortiz, UEPG president; Phillip White, head of the HSE’s Operational Strategy Division; Lawrence Waterman OBE, director of health and safety at Battersea Power Station; and Nicky Moffat CBE, formerly Britain’s highest-ranking female army officer and an expert in leadership roles.
Speaking at the event, Simon Vivian outlined how the MPA was working with its members to deliver on the “common goal” of Zero Harm. “Over the last year, the MPA has invested not only in raising health awareness. We have stuck to our task on cycle safety. We have our Stay Safe campaign, growing participation on the Avetta Contractors’ Database, increased use of Safety Passports, and are progressing and delivering greater work force competence. We have published and distributed nearly 20,000 copies of a new [MPA] Driver’s Handbook, produced in record time by a handful of member companies, generous enough to share their own internal practices for the good of all.
Vivian said that the MPA’s Safequarry and Safeprecast apps were being used by increasing numbers, and the Association hoped to top 2,000 users very soon. “Safequarry is now used globally in over 160 countries, with 32,000 visits each year. We’ve held five Safer by Sharing seminars, attracting over 200 delegates, and four Health & Safety days, attracting over 400 participants.
“However, despite this progress significant challenges remain. Since we last met, another of our colleagues has lost his life. And while LTI’s [Lost Time Incidents] are marginally down, they are effectively plateaued. Achieving even further significant reduction is going to require increased effort at all levels. There are still too many incidences where carelessness and failure to follow basic procedures are resulting in injuries to our employees.
“Externally, incidents involving cyclists are down, but incidents with pedestrians are up. And there has been one fatality that we’re aware of in one of our disused quarries. It’s a sobering and tragic fact that despite our best efforts, our industry has never had a fatality-free 12 months. Whilst member engagement is increasing, we need to widen and deepen it, and crucially, accelerate it.”
Jesús Ortiz, whose UEPG organisation represents 250,000 aggregate sector employees across Europe, said: “Health and safety is and should remain the cornerstone and top priority in our action patterns in managing business within this industry. Visible, felt leadership is key. It is not reserved for nice meetings in our boardrooms. It should flow and reach everybody every person on-site, including contractor and sub-contractor employees.”
Ortiz also praised the equal level of large and SME companies featured on the MPA Health & Safety Awards’ shortlist, as it emphasised how health and safety needs to be at the forefront of firms of all sizes within the mineral products industry.
MPA Health & Safety Conference interactive panel sessions focused on a number of key developments affecting the industry. The first panel session featured Martin Brown, health and safety director with Crossrail, and Jem Bezodis, Kier Group’s head of safety on the Mersey Crossing.
The second panel session involved Chris Leese, outgoing chairman of the MPA Health & Safety Committee, and senior consultants Darren Broadhead of Darren Broadhead Consulting Ltd, Rory Graham of IM&S Solutions Ltd and Glenn Rowe from Arbour Safety Management Ltd.
The afternoon was devoted to celebrating innovation and achievement through the MPA Health & Safety Awards, with the independently-judged awards this year attracting 139 entries from 34 different large/SME companies and organisations.
Martin Whitmarsh, former chief executive officer of McLaren F1 Racing and now CEO of the Land Rover BAR America’s Cup Team, presented the bulk of the hotly-contested awards after giving a fascinating presentation focusing on his experience of leading teams of high achieving engineers and sportspeople.
The MPA Awards’ winners were:
Special MPA Awards
John Crabbe Trophy (Outstanding Excellence in Health & Safety): Lhoist UK
Sir Frank Davies Trophy (Companies with less than 100 employees): The Hills Group
In recognition of contributions to working group initiatives: MPA Transport Health & Safety Working Group
For contributions to safer and healthier by sharing (companies with 100+ employees): FM Conway; Cemex UK Materials
For consistent health & safety performance: Singleton Birch
Category Award Winners
Bitumen/Asphalt/Contracting (Eurobitume UK Trophy): Colas Ltd (Warrington) - Ground based pumps for unloading bitumen
Worker Involvement (TUC Trophy): Celsa Steel Services (UK) - Improvement in H&S communication and engagement
Transport (Blue Circle Trophy): Tarmac Ltd (Glasgow) – Vehicle and pedestrian movements review following new products and vehicles
Occupational Health & Well Being (Wimpey Minerals Trophy): Brett Group (Pocklington) – Pocklington Patio Project Pack Build Automation
Contractor’s Safety (BACMI Trophy): Colas Ltd (National) – Traffic management access gate
Engineering Initiatives (MPA Trophy): Brett Group (Poole) – Improving access to Penta tumble drum for maintenance works
Reducing Operational Road Risk (TfL Trophy): FM Conway (National) – Prevention of lorry accidents
Behavioural Safety: Safety Culture; Leadership Management (MPQC Trophy) – EPC-UK – Esprit d’Equipe (Team Spirit) Behavioural Safety Program
Individual Recognition Awards
Rob Buston - Brett Landscaping
Andrew Parsons - Cemex UK Materials
Stephen Bull - Cemex UK Materials
Nigel Mitchell - Cemex UK Materials
Steve Taylor – Cemex UK Materials
Richard Needham – Aggregate Industries
John Hudson – Colas Ltd
Peter Smith – Colas Ltd
Ryan Wood – Colas Ltd
Chris Taylor – Stanton Bona Concrete Ltd
