Global building solutions company CEMEX was a winner in the recent SHP Awards for its campaign to reduce the incidence of slips and trips among its delivery drivers, who make up more than 75 per cent of Cemex Logistics’ employees. Barry Flitton explains how the initiative saw the number of lost-time injuries due to slips and trips drop by more than 60 per cent.
All logistics companies need to be dynamic, willing to change, and prepared to constantly review successes and failures, and this is particularly true in relation to health and safety. CEMEX prides itself on having safe procedures and systems of work but while the number of health and safety incidents is reducing all the time, it was noted that drivers in the business were experiencing too many personal accidents and lost-time injuries, especially in the ‘slips, trips and falls’ category.
To address this, we launched a set of key objectives to reduce the incidence of slips, trips and falls, which centred around housekeeping improvements, the “Get a Grip” campaign, and a specially-produced DVD on the causes of these incidents.
House proud
Many of our accidents resulted from simple causes, such as people tripping over cables and discarded hoses, or stumbling on potholes, but several had serious consequences in terms of cuts, bruises and broken bones. All had something in common – they could all be easily avoided by introducing simple measures, such as better lighting, cleaning and clearer marking of steps and changes of level, and proper storage and waste facilities.
As part of the housekeeping campaign, site managers were encouraged to take a photograph before – showing the potentially hazardous situation – and afterwards, once the problem had been rectified (see pictures, p58). The results were published and prizes awarded.
To further improve visibility for drivers working at night, they were issued with miner’s-style LED headlamps to wear on their hard hats. The idea was actually suggested by a group of night cement drivers, who felt the lamps would improve their visibility both at customer sites and while loading. The initiative has seen an appreciable reduction in the number of incidents reported by night-time drivers – and all for the price of around £15 per lamp!
Get a grip
CEMEX began this campaign by providing the entire driver population with a briefing sheet, which explained why the biggest causes of employee accidents were slips and trips – in the previous five years, there had been 470 such accidents and more than 8000 days’ absence as a result. The sheet cited the following as the main reasons behind slip, trip and fall incidents:
– Jumping from vehicles rather than using steps and handrails;
– Not maintaining three points of contact on ladders;
– Failing to check ground conditions before stepping down from vehicles;
– Running up and down stairs;
– Tripping or slipping on walkways because they were not clean and tidy; and
– Slipping on stairs or steps due to dirty footwear.
The sheet urged drivers to avoid all of these scenarios by following safe practices at all times. For example, three points of contact should be used when getting in and out of vehicles, on stairs using the handrail, and when using ladders. Drivers were also reminded to:
– Regularly check the condition of walkways, vehicle access steps and ladders;
– Keep walkways free from slip/trip hazards;
– Ensure steps, ladder rungs and footwear are free from mud, grease, etc;
– Always wear suitable footwear;
– Check ground conditions before stepping down from vehicles, ladders, etc;
– Use suitable gloves when climbing ladders; and
– Never jump down from vehicles and always walk, never run.
Drivers were asked to urge colleagues they saw acting unsafely to follow safe practices, and to highlight any defects and required improvements through maintenance inspection reports, or the company’s near-miss/hazard alert system.
The campaign had buy-in from the top – it was managed by CEMEX’s health and safety manager and sponsored by the company’s vice-president and two operations directors. ‘Get a Grip’ sessions were held at the despatch and weighbridge offices in all five of the company’s logistics regions, and were fully supported by regional managers, transport managers, and lead drivers.
The final piece of the training was the specially produced, 10-minute DVD, which was shown to all 6000 of CEMEX’s drivers in the UK. The DVD features CEMEX cartoon characters, who are involved in the common types of accidents experience around the company, as well as real-life scenes on CEMEX sites showing the correct way to operate. Activities depicted include:
– Clearing up after work activities;
– Spillages;
– Leaving tools lying about;
– Clearing up and isolating the risk;
– Access to and from mobile plant/ vehicles;
– Carrying items on stairways – maintaining clear sight and using handrails;
– Running;
– Not rushing;
– Poor surfaces;
– Carrying out remedial work to reduce trip hazards; and
– Weather conditions – gritting and clearing snow.
By highlighting bad practice alongside the correct way of doing things the intention was to help people readily relate the DVD’s content to their own activities. The film has no dialogue, as it was intended to be used European-wide, and possibly globally. By using an element of humour in the production the film holds the viewers’ attention effectively and encourages them to open up dialogue. The film can be used in full, or as a series of individual chapters to emphasise a particular point – for example, as part of a tool-box talk.
Conclusion
Through its commitment to driver training and vehicle improvements CEMEX has seen a major improvement in its fleet safety performance. Over 18 months, the number of lost-time injuries went down from 30 to just 11 (see figure 1), which the company directly attributes to an increased awareness among employees of how to act safely, and the importance of ensuring others act safely too.
Health and safety remains one of the company’s top priorities and is always the number-one item on operational meeting agendas. Figures, facts and initiatives are reviewed on a monthly basis, and transport managers and lead drivers ensure that their staff work in a safe environment by conducting regular health and safety reviews. As for top management, which is primarily office-based, they regularly visit sites (quarries, concrete and coating plants, etc.) and will report unsafe work practices if they see them.
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