Plasterboard firm makes headway on safety

Plasterboard manufacturer British Gypsum has developed a new load-securing system for its delivery lorries.

British Gypsum, which is part of the Saint-Gobain group, has created a bungee-strap system for its teardrop trailers. The system was purpose-designed to ensure plasterboards are restrained during transit and kept in good condition. The firm has also created a suspended blanket for the delivery of plaster bags.

As part of the project the company has developed best-practice guidelines on using the system. The guidelines have been formally signed by all of the company’s lead hauliers and sub-contractors.

British Gypsum supply chain and operations director Stephen Smith said: “It has been compulsory for curtain-sided vehicles to have sufficient load restraints for some time, yet we wanted to explore ways to go beyond this legal requirement and ensure the safest possible conditions for our customers, drivers and other road users. At the same time, we were keen to come up with a solution that makes sure our products get to the customer in the same excellent condition as when they leave the manufacturing plant.

“By creating a bespoke system, we’ve eliminated the need for our drivers to work at height, which obviously reduces a key risk, and deliveries can be unloaded on to site more efficiently, which is great news for our customers.”

The development of the load-securing system comes just months after British Gypsum began working in partnership with international logistics organisation CEVA, and invested in its fleet to reduce carbon emissions by 5 per cent.

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.

Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.

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