The
Sustainability is relevant to every aspect of the mineral products industry’s activities, from quarry development, and operation, dredging and recycling to manufacturing and transport, to the use of our products and materials and to the restoration of extraction sites.
Key observations were:
• Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate - The Lost Time Incident Frequency Rate for Direct Employees increased from 3.47 in 2016 to 3.59 in 2017, against the backdrop of an overall 4-year reduction of 30%. The MPA has set a target of reducing the Lost Time Incident Frequency Rate by 65% between 2014 and 2019 of 1.80 as part of its efforts to achieve Zero Harm.
• Industry Risk Profile - In 2017, the industry recorded seven fatalities, the highest since 2003. In response MPA has reviewed the industry’s risk profile and is focussing on six potential high consequence hazards which have the greatest potential to result in workplace fatalities.
• Public safety – The industry continues to focus on protecting the general public around active operations, on disused sites and in the transportation and use of its products. Working with national drowning prevention stakeholders, MPA seeks to improve public safety through the Stay Safe campaign. MPA and member companies have continued to act to reduce collisions between industry vehicles and pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users, actively supporting the Construction Logistics and Community Safety initiative (CLOCS).
• People - MPA members directly employ 25,442 people, of which, 86% were male and 14% female. Members undertook 265,779 employee training hours, recorded 6,852 voluntary hours worked by staff during normal working hours, carried out 202 community liaison activities and received 36,357 visitors to Member sites.
• Resource Use - In 2017, only 3% of crushed rock sales and 24% of terrestrial sand and gravel sales were replaced by new planning permissions. The rolling 10-year average replenishment rates for crushed rock and sand and gravel were 69% and 53% respectively.
• Recycling – The share of GB aggregates market supplied from recycled sources has increased to 30% placing the UK amongst the highest in Europe.
• Climate Change and Energy - CO₂ emissions per tonne of hard rock and sand and gravel saw minor reductions in 2017. Direct emissions of CO₂ per tonne PCe from the UK cement industry were 25% lower than in 1998 and 0.4% lower than in 2016. A new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) based on 2016 data showed a reduction in the Global Warming Potential of cement. The ‘Cement Decarbonisation Action Plan’ was signed jointly by Government and Industry.
• Transport - 2017 saw an increase in aggregates transported by rail with aggregates and mineral products representing the largest UK rail freight flow by weight. 14.3 million tonnes of marine dredged aggregates were delivered to wharves close to major construction markets.
• Biodiversity - To date MPA Members have recorded the creation of 8,192ha of priority habitat and have a further 11,458ha planned.
Commenting, chief executive of the MPA Nigel Jackson said: “While industry sustainability data for 2017 showed positive results in many areas such as recycling, biodiversity, carbon emissions and transport, our workplace safety record was unacceptable and has led to a renewed determination in the industry to ensure that performance reverts to an improving trend. Health and Safety improvement remains our top priority in order to protect both the industry and the general public.”
