MPA launches new Safer by...initiative

The 2897 Mineral Products Association’s (MPA) latest Safer by... initiative calls on members and their contractors to work more closely together to reduce contractor injuries and the incidence of ill health; and ultimately achieve the target of Zero Harm.

Nigel Jackson, chief executive MPA: said: “MPA members need to be able to demonstrate contractors’ and sub-contractors’ competence with the same degree of rigour as if the contractors were directly employed. It is in recognition of the key role that contractors play in the achievement of Zero Harm that we have developed and launched Safer by Partnership.”

Colin Mew, principal inspector National Quarries Inspection Team HSE, said:

“I wholeheartedly endorse the aims of MPA in setting the benchmark for its members. It’s actually quite a brave move, I think, for a trade association to ask such a thing of its membership. But I think it’s also one which the enlightened moral majority have given full support to, so credit must go to both MPA and its membership for that.”

The MPA ‘Safer by Partnership’ initiative, launched at 427 Hillhead 2012, sets out a clear action plan.

This involves launching a Contractors’ Charter which will harness contractors’ and clients’ minds to work together in true partnership and contribute to the achievement of Zero Harm; develop a single Contractor Database to streamline prequalification by enabling contractors to lodge and share their credentials with clients; engage to share ideas, gain feedback and review progress via Regional Contractor Forums, and share a toolkit of vital resources including statistics, publications, web links and competence mapping.

It also involves improving knowledge of working practice in the industry so that performance can be improved and working closely with other relevant stakeholders so that the Safer by Partnership initiative is widely supported and successful.

MPA statistics show that contractors are at disproportionate risk of occupational injury. Of the fatalities that occurred at MPA members sites between 2000-2011, two-thirds were suffered by contractors.

Additionally, the number of contractor Lost Time Incidents (LTI) increased between 2009-2011. This is despite ten years of overall continuous improvement in pursuit of Zero Harm.