MPA Health & Safety Conference & Awards 2018

A packed house of 250 delegates, representing 65 organisations, attended this year’s 2897 Mineral Products Association’s (MPA) Health and Safety Conference and Awards 2018.

Staged at 30 Euston Square in London on Wednesday 7 November, the H&S Conference & Awards, sponsored by Industrial Diagnostics Company and hosted by ITV Central News presenter Sameena Ali-Khan, built on the key messages from last year’s event with the theme of ‘Closing the Gaps … Focussing on Priorities’. The morning’s conference reflected on more effective communication and supervision as part of closing the gap between the industry’s collective health and safety aims and the realities on the ground.

Giving the opening address, MPA chairman Martin Riley, senior vice president, 868 Tarmac, said: “Last year was unlike any other since MPA was formed in 2009. So tragic that I said I wanted our conference then to be a defining moment for the association and, in turn, the industry. A time to change our conversation on Health & Safety and reset our agenda. Since that time, we have tried to do just that by focussing on those high consequence hazards identified as our ‘fatal 6’; Contact with Moving Machinery and Isolation, Workplace Transport and Pedestrian Interface, Work at Height, Respirable Crystalline Silica, Struck by Moving Falling Object and Road Traffic Accidents. This renewed focus, coupled with an even greater determination to prevent fatalities and serious injury, will help us take another significant step on our journey to achieving Zero Harm. We have also helped inspire and develop the new Mineral Products Strategic Health & Safety Forum which combines the sectoral role of the MPA with other key industry organisations and associations to ensure that we can all play to our strengths, avoid duplication and wasteful effort whilst sharing and learning from each other. MPA has a critical leadership role to play in the Forum representing over 90% of the industry and able to mobilise mass delivery of change.”

The morning’s keynote conference speaker, Kevin Furniss, vice president of Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Sustainability at MAERSK APM Terminals, focussed on Learning to Fail Safely in a High Consequence Environment.   

In the morning’s first interactive session, panellists James Pearce, BBC broadcaster and director of JP Media Training, Kim Brewer, Market and Customer Insights Leader at 3M UK and Peter Kinselley, associate director, Technical and Consultancy, Cardinus Risk Management discussed ‘Building and Communicating the Health & Safety Message’.
 
This was followed by Paul Burnley, Partner at Freeths who talked about ‘Fatal Consequences: what are the costs?’

In the second interactive panel session, Clive Johnson, Head of Health and Safety, Land Securities; Kevin Furniss, VP Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Sustainability, MAERSK APM Terminals and John Davies, Health, Safety & Environmental Director at 3071 Marshalls Plc considered ‘Revitalising the Art of Active and Effective Supervision’.

The afternoon marked the amazing innovation, ingenuity and sharing of best practice within the membership via the prestigious MPA Health and Safety Awards 2018 which attracted a record number of 148 entries from 30 companies of all sizes and from all over the UK.

Nigel Jackson, MPA’s chief executive said: “The MPA Health & Safety committee, Working Groups, MPA Council and the Board, continue to focus on prioritising our common goal of achieving Zero Harm and making our industry a safe place to work. The MPA Health and Safety Awards showcase and recognise the best in innovative ideas and best practices, demonstrated this year by the record number of submissions. Sharing these is an absolutely key part of our making the workplace safer and healthier, raising standards and improving the working experience.”

With degrees in Astrophysics and Medicine from University College London (UCL), a degree in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University and space medical training at both Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers, medical doctor Dr. Kevin Fong gave a keynote talk on Managing Risk in Harsh Environments and his special interest in space medicine.

MPA is grateful to Martin Isles, Terry Rose, David Neave, Phil Smith, Gordon Telling, Darren Broadhead and Rory Graham who judged the 148 award submissions from 30 member companies. Half of the submissions came from SMEs.

Acknowledging leadership, workforce engagement, and the application of these principles across all aspects of their business and links within the wider community, Kilwaughter Chemicals Company was announced as the winner of the Sir Frank Davies Trophy.

MPA special awards were given to FM 2949 Conway and Hanson for their work of safer by sharing, and J&J Franks, Mansfield Sand and Smith and Sons (Bletchington) for safety on their new plants and operations.   

This Year's Winners Are:
• The Sir Frank Davies Trophy:
Winner – Kilwaughter Chemicals Company
• Bitumen; Asphalt; Contract Surfacing:
Winner – Aggregate Industries - Automated Inspection and Testing
• Worker Involvement:
Winner – Kerneos/Imerys Aluminates - Dynamic Risk Assessments
• Transport Initiatives:
Winner – Day Group - Wheel Telematics
• Occupational Health and Well Being:
Winner – Brett Landscaping and Building Products - Reduction in Manual Handling and Concrete Cutting
• Contractor Safety:
Winner – Sibelco - Taking the guess work out of edge protection
• Engineering Initiatives:
Winner – Aggregate Industries – Thinking Outside the Confined Space
• Reducing Occupational Road Risk:
Winner – Tarmac – Void Separators
• Behavioural Safety; Safety Culture; Leadership:
Winner – EPC - Real Engagement, Influencing behaviours 
• MPA Special Award:
Winners – FM Conway, Hanson, J&J Franks, Mansfield Sand, Smith and Sons (Bletchington)

Individuals were recognised for their personal health and safety contributions:

1. Karen Toyes, 2nd Officer CEMEX
2. Tom McDonald, D Wardle Plant Ltd
3. Ed Thompson, Tarmac
4. Andrea Magro, Sapphire
5. Ben Strickland, Smith and Sons (Bletchington)
6. Paul Adamson, Operations Manager, Lagan
7. John Middleton, Heavy Plant Manager, Smith and Sons (Bletchington)
8. Sharon Bradley, HSE Office, Lagan
9. Chris Rogerson, Group Purchasing, Marshalls
10. Ed Smith, Operations Team Leader, Atlantic Pumps   
11. Jamie Harper, Project Engineer, Singleton Birch   
12. Chris Muffett, Unit Manager, GRS
13. Brian Armstrong, Asphalt Production Supervisor, Hanson
14. David Potter, Hanson
15. Josh Farrell, MQP Asphalt Supervisor  
16. Nigel Berrington, Fitter, Tarmac
17. Sean Ryan, Fitter, Tarmac
18. Steve Taylor, Plant Manager, CEMEX  
19. Malcolm Wheeler, Asphalt North General Manager, Aggregate Industries
20. John Hudson, Foreman Fitter, Colas