Accident statistics within our industrial sector generally and CRH plc in particular, show that transport is the primary cause of fatal accidents.
The key hazards in this regard are as follows:-
- people being run over by a vehicle
- vehicles running over an open edge
- vehicles colliding
- people being trapped under a vehicle body
- vehicle making contact with overhead power lines
CRH Europe Materials have decided to implement a Transport Safety Campaign to manage these hazards and thereby reduce the risk of a fatality.
The Campaign launch event was held at Dunmurry on 12 November 2010 with CRH Country Manager for Ireland, Jim Mintern, and Mark Lowry, the Northstone Chief Executive, delivering presentations. Jim explained the Campaign objectives, the degree of risk represented by transport in our workplaces and the required Campaign outcomes.
Mark then identified the three activity areas which will be focussed on in the Campaign within Northstone. These are as follows:-
1) Off Site - public roads and customer sites
2) On Site - contract works
3) On Site - quarries, depots and factories
During the presentation, Mark reaffirmed his commitment to improve transport safety standards at Northstone;
“At Northstone we are committed to delivering improved transport safety by clearly identifying transport hazards and implementing effective control measures” he said.
The roll out of the Transport Safety Campaign at Northstone will be as follows:-
- In January 2011, each division will deliver two awareness sessions in keeping with the activity areas which are relevant to them.
- All sessions will refer to the 16 CRH Rules and 11 Fundamentals for Fatality Elimination.
- The learning of the attendees at the sessions will be assessed by the divisional health and safety managers and advisers during audits and inspections.
Mark closed the launch event by indicating his desire that as many Northstone people as possible participate in the Campaign to make it a success;
“I expect as many employees and sub contractors as possible to play a full and active part in the delivery of the CRH Transport Safety Campaign to ensure it achieves its objectives. The outcome of the Campaign is quite simple. There should be reduced risk of transport related accidents to the lowest possible level in all activity areas in Northstone. We must build a philosophy across our Company that one such accident is one too many. I commend the forthcoming Transport Safety Campaign to all Northstone people and expect your full support.”
