Rema Tip-Top celebrate two health and safety awards
Rema Tip-Top Industry are the proud recipients of two prestigious awards from the Mineral Products Association (MPA). Given annually at the combined conference and awards ceremony, the MPA Health & Safety Awards recognize and share best practice, progress and results in health and safety.
A major theme of this year’s conference was to encourage mineral producers and their contractors to work together to improve health and safety, as part of the drive towards Zero Harm. It was appropriate, therefore that the first award received by Rema Tip-Top was in partnership with Tarmac West region for the unique ‘Contractor Safety Partnership’ between Tarmac West and named key contractors.
This innovative program began in late 2011 when safety improvement plans were set for 2012. Safety performance and statistics are shared between the members, and safety issues openly discussed. Monthly conference calls to monitor progress are made and meetings are held at either Tarmac or contractor premises and are supported by HSE attendance and participation.
Rema Tip Top’s health & safety director, Richard Solly, said: ‘As a company working as a contractor in the extractives industry for over 40 years, it is refreshing to be involved in this unique partnership where all present are genuinely on an equal footing. The trust developed has enabled the combined wealth of experience to be shared. It is clear this has accelerated our progress along a common path to improved safety performance.’
The entry (Contractor Safety Partnership – Project 2012) was awarded runner-up for outstanding achievements in the Contractor Safety section.
In addition, Richard Solly was himself the recipient of an individual award, recognizing his exceptional personal contribution to health and safety.
Richard has worked in the mineral products industry since the 1970s, initially as a mechanical design engineer. This hands-on experience of engineering gives him an insight into the day-to-day operations of the industry and a better understanding of the health and safety issues faced by employees in the industry.
Andrew West, general manager of Rema Tip Top Industry, commented: ‘Richard works extremely hard to ensure the highest level of health and safety at all the sites on which our employees work, and we are extremely proud of our record of significantly reducing accident rates as a result of pro-active improvements.’
Under Richard Solly’s guidance Rema Tip Top have developed a range of conveyor safety and maintenance training courses that have been accredited and certificated by the industry awarding association – the Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC). These have been adopted by a number of major clients in the UK. Rema Tip Top give advice regarding the safeguarding of conveyors and interpretation of the application of the requirements of the British Standards.
The company continues to lead the way in its sector and has become one of the first contractors to be registered and approved by PICS, the assessment organization nominated by the Mineral Products Association to approve contractors’ health and safety systems for the whole industry. This is the latest addition to the range of third-party assessment approvals which include: CHAS, SAFEcontractor, Achilles Category B2, and Impress ConCom. Rema Tip Top are accredited to deliver Quarry Safety Passports, and are licensed by IOSH to deliver ‘Managing Safely and Working Safely’ training courses.
