EPC-UK – two times a winner!
Company receives prestigious MPQC accolade for a second time at MPA Health & Safety Awards 2018
EPC-UK, specialists in commercial explosives and blasting, were presented with the prestigious MPQC Trophy at this year’s MPA (Mineral Products Association) Health and Safety Awards – becoming the only company to receive the accolade twice.
The award, achieved for demonstrating Behavioural Safety, Safety Culture and Leadership, was bestowed upon EPC-UK for a second time in recognition of their innovative ‘Commit to be Fit’ initiative.
‘The health, safety and well-being of our employees has always been our top priority, but with 250 employees across five different operating divisions nationwide, it has been a challenge to engage with them all effectively,’ explained Ben Williams, EPC-UK’s managing director. ‘This is why Commit to be Fit was created.’
The Commit to be Fit programme originated from EPC-UK looking more closely at the health and well-being of its staff and a desire to encourage them to live more active, healthier lifestyles, both in and out of work. To kick-start the initiative, all employees were provided with a backpack, a water bottle and a Garmin device.
The Garmin has proved to be invaluable in driving the initiative, allowing EPC-UK to ‘push’ advice, activities and challenges to those employees who have opted into the scheme, regardless of location and job title. One such activity was the 100km Challenge, which aimed to encourage employees to get out of the office and walk one kilometre every day.
‘Simple activities, such as the 100km Challenge, have really helped to bring health and well-being to the forefront of people’s priorities and the results have been life changing,’ continued Mr Williams. ‘One member of our team took up cycling to improve his fitness and has lost four stone in weight as a consequence.
‘We have also seen a reduction in absence levels, to less than 1.5%, and a 70% reduction in smokers in the business – all as a result of our Commit to be Fit programme.’
In addition, EPC-UK held a number of Health and Well-being seminars, which focused on fitness, sleep and eating habits, amongst other topics. These seminars enjoyed 100% attendance, reflecting the success of the company’s Commit to be Fit initiative to engage and influence its employees.
‘I was very proud to accept the MPQC Award for our Commit to be Fit campaign on behalf of everyone at EPC-UK. It is due to the commitment shown by all of our employees to improving their health and well-being that we were awarded this honour,’ concluded Mr Williams.
