Cartoon figures Norman, the loveable walking disaster, and Monty, his long suffering boss, are back on the ‘big screen’, in the latest Cemex UK health and safety video, Step In...Save a Life! For the first time in the building materials industry, the video involves cartoon characters interacting with real live colleagues.
"We’re delighted to have Norman and Monty back with us, and by using humour it enables us to make some vital health and safety messages very memorable. Norman and Monty say nothing but certainly communicate a lot! Because of this format there are no language barriers, so it has the potential to be used by the 50 or so
Before Norman and Monty, the video starts with a mini drama in which an employee reflects and feels guilty that he didn’t step-in to prevent an accident in which his colleague was seriously injured. The actors portray the many emotions that are felt following an accident, focusing on the person that could have stepped-in and help prevent it.
Following the drama, the presenter invites viewers to stop the video and discuss stepping-in and the sort of situations in their operations in which they might have to take decisive steps and challenge colleagues.
Finally it’s back to Norman and Monty. Norman walks on site without personal protection equipment, then ignores walkway signs and steps in front of an oncoming truck. Monty saves Norman from being knocked over and following a reprimand, Norman decides he would make amends by producing a video about Cemex’s 12 ‘Safety Essentials’.
Filming and ‘commentating’ as Norman and Monty tour the site, they cover all the Essentials from safe lifting and working at height to observing site speed limits and working in confined spaces. When they show their video to their real live colleagues in the canteen they are warmly congratulated on the engaging way they have communicated safe working. This serves as a reminder to the viewer of how they can work safely on site.
Taylor continues "The video will form a vital part of our on-going programme of health and safety training for all CEMEX UK personnel.”
Grundon Sand & Gravel’s flagship Kennetholme quarry in county Berkshire, southern England, recently hosted the prestigious annual Safety and Health Awareness Day (SHAD), organised by the South East Quarries and Landfill Group (SEQLG), a voluntary group made up of quarry and landfill operators.
More than 120 people, including quarry and landfill operators, safety representatives, advisors and operatives, attended the event, which was designed to highlight the importance of health and safety issues.
Neil Grundon, deputy chairman of
“We take site safety and best practice extremely seriously and take great pride in ensuring that our own sites operate to the highest possible safety standards for employees and visitors alike.
“Safety must always be paramount within our industry and having the opportunity to learn from the experts at events such as this, and see the latest tools and equipment available, is a valuable opportunity for all of us as we strive to do even better.
“Also, it’s not every day that opportunities present themselves to learn about health and safety on a working quarry, especially to focus on the unique challenges that an environment such as this presents.”
The day-long programme included the opportunity to visit several different areas of the quarry and watch demonstrations on eight different health and safety-related topics, including working at height; manual handling; vehicle and pedestrian safety and visibility; and fault finding and guarding.
Also on show was some of Grundon Sand & Gravel’s own operating equipment, including a new giant €277,500 (£200,000) loading shovel and a giant excavator delivered for the day from its Frith End quarry.
Participants were divided into teams and there was also a competitive spirit as prizes were awarded for those spotting a series of health and safety “bloomers” which were deliberately placed around the site as part of the training exercise.
David Isham, chairman of the SEQLG safety group, praised Grundon Sand & Gravel for volunteering to host the day, saying: “We were delighted when they stepped forward and we hope it will encourage others to do the same. The Grundon team has put in a lot of time into helping to promote health and safety and it was an excellent event.”
