Series of videos released for European Week for Health and Safety at work

To mark the European Week for Safety and Health at Work, Ibstock has launched a series of new videos to remind its employees about the importance of safety in the work place.

The videos cover each of its individual businesses as well as contractors, and are based around The 12 Fundamentals – the main points on which the organisation’s health and safety policies are built. They are aimed at promoting a culture of safety awareness amongst employees and highlights how best practice can keep staff safe.

In addition to the roll-out of the videos, during European Week for Safety and Health at Work, Ibstock is also holding a number of health and wellbeing events across its sites. These will include free and confidential health check-ups as well as advice on nutrition and fitness.

Wayne Sheppard, Chief Executive of Ibstock, said: “Health and safety is our number one priority, and The 12 Fundamentals allow us to focus on health and safety in the work place. Our ‘safety begins with me’ culture means staff can report anything which concerns them to their manager. Every accident we can prevent, now and in the future, means that one less person has to suffer the consequences of being hurt whilst they are at work. Our target is zero accidents, particularly lost time accidents, and until we achieve this we will do everything we can to make Ibstock the safest place to work.”

Ibstock adopted its 12 Fundamentals several years ago to minimise the risks in undertaking hazardous activities where both employees and contractors have historically been injured.

Simon Hayles, director of health and safety for Ibstock, said: “The health and wellbeing of our employees is fundamental to Ibstock’s business. The messages in our new videos are of paramount importance and the European Week for Safety and Health at Work presents the ideal opportunity to reinforce these. Our commitment to health and safety is echoed throughout the organisation and when The 12 Fundamentals are followed, many of the risks faced are reduced or removed entirely.”

The 12 Fundamentals, which are based on Ibstock’s daily activities, are;

• Risk assessment
• Mobile plant and pedestrian safety
• Isolation of operating machinery
• Machine guarding
• Confined spaces
• Working from height
• Lifting operations
• Electricity
• Manual handling
• Pressure vessels
• Contractors
• Gas