Recognition for leaders in health and safety

UK quarry companies gathered in London last month to hear who had scooped the top prizes in the Quarry Products Association’s Health and Safety Best Practice Awards. From 143 initial entries, a final tally of 44 award-winners across eight categories lined up alongside the winners of three unique awards for 2005.

The three special awards were presented to: David Pargeter, quarry manager at Tarmac's Dene Quarry, Matlock, for an outstanding contribution to the ‘Play Safe…Stay Safe’ campaign 2005; Steve Banfield, on behalf of the HSE, and Andrew Hack (Tarmac), on behalf of the industry, for their long-term commitment to annual health and safety days; and Johnsons Wellfield Quarries for their community work at the company’s Crosland Moor Quarry.

The two major prizes in the QPA awards scheme, the Sir Frank Davies trophy for the most outstanding health and safety performance by a smaller company, and the John Crabbe Trophy for the overall winner, were won by Huntsmans Quarries Ltd and CEMEX UK Materials respectively.

The other trophy winners were: Tarmac Group: Wimpey Minerals Trophy for the management of occupational health and hygiene; CEMEX UK Materials (Northern Region): Blue Circle Trophy for road haulage (LGV) safety; WBB Minerals Ltd: EPIC Trophy for management of contractors; CEMEX UK Materials (Dove Holes): TUC/QPA Trophy for safety committee of the year; Bardon Aggregates (Hulands asphalt plant): RBA Trophy for safer delivery and storage of bitumen; and Lafarge Aggregates (Greenhithe Wharf): QPA Trophy for innovation.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, QPA director general Simon van der Byl said the event showed the remarkable work that goes on in the industry towards the ultimate goal of banishing all accidents to the history books. Congratulating all the companies and individuals who won prizes, he said particular credit should be given to the top award winner, CEMEX UK Materials, who had further raised the bar for health and safety best practice, as had Huntsmans Quarries who scooped the SME award.

The event’s principal guest speaker, Justin McCracken, acting chief executive of the Health and Safety Executive, added : ‘These awards play an important role in the sharing of good ideas within the industry and it’s important that the individuals and companies who have innovated in their approach to health and safety get recognized. I congratulate everyone involved for their ingenuity and dedication to raising standards.’