COVID-19: MPA launches new guidance resources

Mineral Products Association publishes two new pocket guides to help members adapt to COVID-19

THE Mineral Products Association (MPA) has launched two new sector-specific pocket guides, for managers and employees, which are designed to support members in keeping employees, contractors, suppliers and customers safe as site operations adapt to the restrictions of COVID-19 and become COVID secure.

The two guides, which are complementary and mirror each other, draw on expert industry advice and techniques and have been prepared by the MPA’s Health and Safety Committee. In addition, a comprehensive Technical Handbook will be available later this week and further resources, including posters, are anticipated.

Based around ‘10 Rules of Engagement’ designed to defend employees at work, the new resources are:

For managers – an A5 pocket guide with guidance for local managers to assist them as they prepare workplaces for start-up or continuing operation. Outlining the steps managers need to take to help everyone on site maintain social distancing and to mitigate the hazards associated with COVID-19, it includes both practical measures and recommendations on how to reinforce safe behaviours. Copies should be made available to all managers with responsibility for operations and premises.

For employees – an A5 pocket guide, using relatable graphics, designed for members to circulate to employees to help them understand the behaviours that they need to adopt to keep themselves, their families, colleagues and the public safe as they go about their daily work. In addition to the ‘10 Rules of Engagement’, the pocket guide covers activities from the time they leave home, through the working day, to their safe return.

A comprehensive Technical Handbook will be circulated later this week. Aimed at directors and managers, it will provide guidance on operating safely and provide links/references to useful resources, including those from the Government and the HSE.

The resources are designed to stand alone, or companies may wish to use them as a basis for their own plans and communications. All the documents are available on the Safequarry.com and Safeprecast.com websites and will be regularly reviewed and updated as new guidance and information emerges.

MPA chief executive Nigel Jackson said: ‘Following this guidance will help enable the essential mineral products industry to continue to supply materials to the construction, manufacturing and other key strategic sectors and activities as economic activity increases.

‘This new package of resources demonstrates how the industry is already adapting to be COVID secure. We will update the guidance as new practices and innovations emerge, recognizing that these are early days and that as we all learn to live and work with the virus new ideas will emerge from within and outside the sector.’
 
Copies of ‘Managers COVID-19 Guidance’ and ‘Employees COVID-19 Guidance’ can be downloaded below.