The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work ((EU-OSHA) presented the company’s West region with a prestigious Good Practice Award for its Safe Maintenance programme.
The awards, which took place in Budapest, Hungary on the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, saw Tarmac beat companies from 23 EU countries to win one of eight Good Practice Awards.
In 2009 Tarmac launched its ‘Safe Maintenance’ programme across the 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 representatives, including David McClelland, Executive Director for Tarmac West Region, delivered a presentation to a 100-strong European delegation on Tarmac’s approach to delivering the Safe Maintenance programme.
The Tarmac team shared knowledge with attendees and answered questions on how it has worked with contractors, established robust near-hit processes as well as the importance of education using safety day events.
Commenting on the award win, 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”
EU-OSHA was set up by the European Union to help meet the information needs in the field of occupational safety and health. Based in Bilbao, Spain, EU-OSHA aims to improve the lives of people at work by stimulating the flow of technical, scientific and economic information between all those involved in occupational safety and health issues.
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