Iron technology developer Saint-Gobain PAM UK has won an award for its dedication to reducing workplace accidents.
The firm received the health and safety award at the Society of British Water and Wastewater Industries (SBWWI) annual award lunch, which was held earlier this month at the Hilton Hotel in Warwick.
The judges were particularly impressed by the company’s submission as it demonstrated a commitment to health and safety throughout the organisation. They highlighted that the company’s approach to reducing workplace accidents had yielded tangible and sustainable results.
The entry described a specific action plan, which was developed three years ago, to drive a safety conscious behavioral change throughout all of the firm’s operations. Based on three co-dependant principles: no compromise on safety, operator involvement in recognising root causes of accidents and near misses, and behavioral changes by the use of targeted audits (SMATs) and world class manufacturing tools, the strategy is said to have resulted in a reduction in accident rates of almost 50 per cent.
Saint-Gobain PAM human resources director, Sue Wallbanks, said: “Our motto is ‘nothing is so important it cannot be done safely’ and this award is testament to our dedication to fulfilling this.
“Our safety management is both reactive and proactive, in that all accidents, no matter how minor, are investigated and a number of management tools are applied to ensure best practice in all situations. Each of our sites is targeted with reducing its risk score by 30 per cent year on year, and every operator is empowered to stop production if they see something unsafe. It means that we can continuously improve with the aim of running an accident-free operation.”
