EPC-UK triumph at IQ Excellence Awards

Embedded safety culture sees company pick up two prestigious North England regional accolades

EPC-UK, specialist in explosives and drilling and blasting services, are celebrating the successes they have already achieved at this year’s IQ Excellence Awards – accolades created and hosted by The Institute of Quarrying, to celebrate the personal and professional excellence of people working in the mineral extractives sector.

The awards recognize the exceptional achievements of individuals, teams and projects across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, North England and South England, presenting both regional and overall national honours.

Ahead of the grand final presentation for the national awards – which will take place at Hillhead 2020 next June – EPC-UK learnt that they had successfully achieved North England regional accreditation in the categories of ‘Best Initiative to Engage the Workforce’ and ‘Most Effective Health and Safety Leadership’.

In winning the ‘Best Initiative’ award, EPC-UK demonstrated their capabilities as a health and safety advocate; successful in encouraging employees’ physical and mental well-being through their recently devised ‘Commit to be Fit’ initiative.

From EPC-UK’s application, judges saw the value and results achieved through the company’s encouragement of staff to take active interest in their health, whilst being provided with support and guidance on various areas, from nutrition and exercise, to mindfulness and mental health.

‘We’re a distributed workforce of nearly 250 people, and therefore our management of occupational ill-health risk is vital,’ explained EPC-UK’s managing director, Ben Williams.

‘We have office-based staff, as well as teams of remote workers who are responsible for blasting and drilling and can spend long periods on their own. In addition, we employ drivers who transport hazardous materials nationwide and work unsociable hours amidst difficult road conditions. Remote workers make up 50% of our workforce, so preventing any notion of neglect is important to safeguarding their health and well-being.’

Mr Williams himself was recognized by winning EPC-UK’s second award achievement of ‘Most Effective Health and Safety Leadership’. Having been instrumental in improving health and safety within EPC-UK, the wider EPC Groupe and the UK quarrying industry, he has consistently demonstrated the importance he places on health and safety, through strong leadership and the ability to inspire his team.

The judging panel were impressed with his introduction of health and safety initiatives, from conception through to completion, and his contribution to leading a safer and healthier working environment for all his employees.

‘Since being appointed as managing director seven years ago, I have tried to embed a safety culture that sweeps throughout the company, from the bottom up, encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their own – and their colleagues – safety,’ Mr Williams explained.

‘I’m delighted to learn that our efforts have been so richly recognized through the IQ Excellence Awards and I would like to sincerely congratulate all members of the EPC-UK organization for being part of this marked, and exciting success.’