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Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK has been named industry leader in health and safety at the Mineral Products Association Health & Safety Awards.
The company scooped the industry’s top award – the John Crabbe Memorial Trophy, which recognises outstanding excellence in health and safety.
The trophy was presented by Lord Jordan of Bourneville, president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), to Lafarge’s Regional President Northern & Central Europe Dyfrig James, managing director Asphalt & Pave Chris Plant and Head of HSQE Dawn Edwards.
Accepting the prestigious award, James said: “Health and safety has got tougher – it always does. But there’s a real commitment to go forward. My thanks goes to the 1600 Lafarge colleagues who joined in the spirit, the intention and the dream”.
The sea change in the company’s health & safety performance began after the death of Barry Williams, an employee of 38 years, who was crushed when a rock face collapsed. Then-managing director Dyfrig James announced he didn’t “want to work for a company that kills people” – and steps were taken to change employees’ behaviour and attitudes towards health and safety across all sites, including offices.
The company moved from a record high of 47 lost-time incidents (LTIs) in 2003, to just one LTI in 2008. And in 2007, the company set an industry record of 409 days without an LTI.
Three other Lafarge initiatives were also recognised: Mountsorrel Quarry in Loughborough, Leicestershire, the company was runner-up for the BACMI Trophy, which rewards training initiatives; and the Waste, Landfill & Recycling business was runner-up for the for the TUC Trophy, which focuses on worker involvement.
