MPA H&S Conference and Awards 2018
First published in the December 2018 issue of Quarry Management
Health and Safety Conference focuses on priorities and celebrates innovation and sharing
A packed house of 250 delegates, representing 65 organizations, gathered at this year’s Mineral Products Association (MPA) Health and Safety Conference and Awards event, which was sponsored by Industrial Diagnostics Company and hosted by ITV Central News presenter Sameena Ali-Khan, at 30 Euston Square on 7 November.
Building on the outputs from last year’s event with the theme of ‘Closing the Gaps … Focusing on Priorities’, the morning’s conference reflected on more effective communication and supervision as part of closing the gap between the industry’s collective health and safety aims and the realities on the ground.
Giving the opening address, MPA chairman Martin Riley, senior vice-president of Tarmac, said: ‘Last year was unlike any other since the MPA was formed in 2009. So tragic that I said I wanted our conference then to be a defining moment for the association and, in turn, the industry. A time to change our conversation on health and safety and reset our agenda.
‘Since that time, we have tried to do just that by focusing on those high-consequence hazards identified as our ‘fatal 6’: Contact with Moving Machinery and Isolation; Workplace Transport and Pedestrian Interface; Work at Height; Respirable Crystalline Silica; Struck by Moving Falling Object; and Road Traffic Accidents.
‘This renewed focus, coupled with an even greater determination to prevent fatalities and serious injury, will help us take another significant step on our journey to achieving Zero Harm.
‘We have also helped inspire and develop the new Mineral Products Strategic Health & Safety Forum, which combines the sectoral role of the MPA with other key industry organizations and associations to ensure that we can all play to our strengths and avoid duplication and wasteful effort, whilst sharing and learning from each other. The MPA has a critical leadership role to play in the Forum, representing over 90% of the industry and able to mobilize mass delivery of change.’
The morning’s keynote conference speaker, Kevin Furniss, vice-president of health, safety, security, environment and sustainability at MAERSK APM Terminals, focused on ‘Learning to Fail Safely in a High Consequence Environment’.
In the morning’s first interactive session, panellists James Pearce, BBC broadcaster and director of JP Media Training; Kim Brewer, market and customer insights leader at 3M UK; and Peter Kinselley, associate director – technical and consultancy at Cardinus Risk Management, discussed ‘Building and Communicating the Health & Safety Message’.
This was followed by Paul Burnley, partner at Freeths, who talked about ‘Fatal Consequences: What are the Costs?’
In the second interactive panel session, Clive Johnson, head of health and safety at Land Securities; Kevin Furniss of MAERSK APM Terminals; and John Davies, health, safety and environmental director at Marshalls plc, considered ‘Revitalizing the Art of Active and Effective Supervision’.
With degrees in Astrophysics and Medicine from University College London (UCL), a degree in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University, and space medical training at both Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers, medical doctor Dr Kevin Fong gave the afternoon keynote talk on ‘Managing Risk in Harsh Environments’ and his special interest in space medicine.
The afternoon also marked the amazing innovation, ingenuity and sharing of best practice within the membership via the prestigious MPA Health and Safety Awards 2018, which attracted a record 148 entries from 30 member companies of all sizes and from all over the UK.
Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the MPA, said: ‘The MPA Health & Safety Committee, Working Groups, MPA Council and the board continue to focus on prioritizing our common goal of achieving Zero Harm and making our industry a safe place to work.
‘The MPA Health and Safety Awards showcase and recognize the best in innovative ideas and best practices, demonstrated this year by the record number of submissions. Sharing these is an absolutely key part of our making the workplace safer and healthier, raising standards and improving the working experience.’
Acknowledging leadership, workforce engagement, and the application of these principles across all aspects of their business and links within the wider community, Kilwaughter Chemicals Company were announced as winners of the Sir Frank Davies Trophy. As only one company made a submission to be considered for the John Crabbe Trophy, which recognizes outstanding performance in health and safety, the MPA made the decision not to award the trophy this year.
MPA Special Awards were given to FM Conway and Hanson for their work on safer by sharing, and J&J Franks, Mansfield Sand and Smiths & Sons (Bletchington) for safety on their new plants and operations. In addition, 20 individuals were recognized for their personal health and safety contributions.
MPA Health and Safety Award Winners 2018
The Sir Frank Davies Trophy:
Winner – Kilwaughter Chemicals Company
Bitumen; Asphalt; Contract Surfacing:
Winner – Aggregate Industries – Automated inspection and testing
Worker Involvement:
Winner – Kerneos/Imerys Aluminates – Dynamic risk assessments
Transport Initiatives:
Winner – Day Group – Wheel telematics
Occupational Health and Well Being:
Winner – Brett Landscaping and Building Products
Contractor Safety:
Winner – Sibelco – Taking the guesswork out of edge protection
Engineering Initiatives:
Winner – Aggregate Industries – Thinking outside the confined space
Reducing Occupational Road Risk:
Winner – Tarmac – Void separators
Behavioural Safety; Safety Culture; Leadership:
Winner – EPC-UK – Real engagement, influencing behaviours
MPA Special Award:
Winners – FM Conway, Hanson, J&J Franks, Mansfield Sand, Smiths & Sons (Bletchington)
MPA Individual Award Winners 2018
Karen Toyes – 2nd officer, CEMEX
Tom McDonald – D Wardle Plant Ltd
Ed Thompson – Tarmac
Andrea Magro – Sapphire
Ben Strickland – Smiths & Sons (Bletchington)
Paul Adamson – operations manager, Lagan
John Middleton – heavy plant manager, Smiths & Sons (Bletchington)
Sharon Bradley – HSE Office, Lagan
Chris Rogerson – group purchasing, Marshalls
Ed Smith – operations team leader, Atlantic Pumps
Jamie Harper – project engineer, Singleton Birch
Chris Muffett – unit manager, GRS
Brian Armstrong – asphalt production supervisor, Hanson
David Potter – Hanson
Josh Farrell – asphalt supervisor, MQP
Nigel Berrington – fitter, Tarmac
Sean Ryan – fitter, Tarmac
Steve Taylor – plant manager, CEMEX
Malcolm Wheeler – Asphalt North general manager, Aggregate Industries
John Hudson – foreman fitter, Colas
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