MBH PLC has recently upgraded the production processes at several of its sites and has committed to a substantial rolling programme of investment. Year on year, the manufacturer has made significant improvements reflected in its annual health and safety audit, carried out by JLT’s risk management team. The manufacturer’s proactive approach has resulted in several health and safety awards including the coveted ‘Showcase Award’ and multiple employees rewarded with the ‘Most Effective Employee Award’ at the 2013 British Ceramic Confederation, Pledge Awards held in Stoke-on-Trent.
Lee Allen, Works Manager at Charnwood, collecting the Showcase Award on behalf of MBH PLC.
Group Operations Director, Peter Sharp said, “We are extremely proud of our team who have displayed a unified, motivated approach to measuring safety performance. Our current 86% audit score falls into the brackets of a company that meets all statutory requirements and is pro-active in its approach to health and safety. We hope to build on our success by working with our risk management team during 2014 to revitalise the audit in such a way as to challenge our business further.”
Amy Harris, Environmental Health & Safety Manager at MBH PLC and the main driver for H&S improvement planning stated, “this will involve the same criteria however less time will be spent with management during the audit process, with more time gained at a practical level with shop floor employees, allowing for greater emphasis on behavioural safety. We are passionate about health and safety, and firmly believe it can form the basis for excellent performance across all our brands and products. We thank the BCC for leading the industry and vow to continue supporting the work of the Confederation, which makes a difference to accident, injury and absence reduction in all ceramic sectors.”
The Showcase Award looks to share the work that has been recorded in collaboration with other companies from within the industry therefore hoping that best practice will be adopted across the board. MBH PLC’s Charnwood site won this award due to the manufacturers elaborate ‘Overhaul of silica control’. It was commended for its approach, adopted on site with regard to employee protection against respirable crystalline silica.
Crystalline silica is a basic component of soil, sand, granite, and many other minerals. Exposure to Respirable Silica Dust, over a prolonged period of time, can cause respiratory issues, which is why MBH PLC have introduced strict H&S measures in order to protect its employees.
A robust system for guaranteed protection
Although previously found by the Health Safety Executive to be compliant in this area, the company found that criteria could change on any given day, leaving uncertainty in fluctuating compliance levels. The main drivers behind improvements were user compliance and user compatibility with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). MBH PLC introduced a robust system that demonstrated guaranteed compliance but more importantly, guaranteed protection of its employees. One of these measures instated by the company since May 2013 made it mandatory that all hand moulders on site, have to wear an Air fed, head top with individual battery filtration units. These current methods provide an effective, guaranteed solution to safeguarding employees at MBH PLC’s sites.
The company’s overall improvement plan encourages all employees to get involved in safety measures and in turn improve their working environments. MBH PLC specialises in the manufacture of hand made and machine made bricks and pavers, also leading in clay tiles, special shaped bricks, Terra Cotta and bespoke products. The firm employs over 250 staff, of which more than 90 percent come from within a ten-mile radius of its sites.
The Sussex based group currently scores a promising audit average of 86%, displaying a 29% increase to their average score, since 2009. The company continues to focus on human behaviour at a practical level across all brands and it is anticipated that these scores will continue to improve in combination with continuous investment and upgrades.
