Tarmac takes European H&S honours

Efforts to improve maintenance safety across 868 Tarmac West’s sites in the UK over the last two years have been rewarded with the initiative winning a prestigious health and safety awards. The scheme won the Safe Maintenance title at the European Good Practice Awards organised by the 6744 European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).

The company was presented with the award at an event in Budapest, Hungary, where Tarmac beat off competition from companies from across Europe to take one of eight awards.

The company launched its Safe Maintenance campaign in 2009 across 75 sites in its West region. The programme involved competence assessments and training plans for mechanical fitting staff, with the aim of eliminating safety incidents related to incorrect selection or use of tools by educating and changing behaviours. It has already delivered a significant reduction in incidents and has increased plant availability as well as further improving business performance and customer service levels.

Tarmac executive director David McClelland said, This is a significant award, which not only shows that our safety maintenance programme is at the forefront of the UK quarrying industry but also leading European best practice. The initiative has been successful because it helps show that a competent workforce is also a safe workforce and that this also achieves an improved business performance.”