20.11.2008

Lavendon introduces new safety programme

Lavendon Access Services is launching a new, ‘Safety Starts with You’ initiative across all 55 UK locations of Nationwide Platforms and Panther Platforms.

The recent mergers of eight companies into two has helped with the implementation of a single, consistent approach towards health and safety across the business. The ‘Safety Starts with You’ campaign is intended to set the standard for the powered access industry.

In conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the support of Genie Industries, a number of new rules have been introduced, with further initiatives being planned for 2009.
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Genie’s assistance includes machine familiarity, manufacturing standards, safety standards and equipment development.

The introduction of an Accident Incident management (AIM) line, delivered by National Britannia, one of the UK’s leading providers of accident reporting systems, provides a dedicated telephone number for employees to report workplace incidents and take the necessary actions required.

National Britannia will provide concise reports and feedback to Lavendon on health & safety performance across the group, helping management to make decisions to improve health and safety in the business.

A key component of the initiative is the recruitment of a health & safety representatives in each branch. The representative, recruited from existing staff, will be tasked with undertaking 10 minutes dedicated health & safety related activities every day.

Monthly health & safety presentations will be delivered throughout the company by branch managers. These presentations will also be supported by regular updates on health & safety performance, details of which are displayed on specific notice boards.
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Lavendon is adopting a zero tollerance towards the wearing or Hi Viz vests and harnesses in boom lifts

Lavendon has also adopted a zero tolerance approach to a number of every day practices. Hi-visibility jackets are to be worn at all times in outside areas of branches, as are full body harnesses when moving self propelled booms.

Lavendon says that over the next two years, it will focus on one specific area each quarter. January – March 2009 will see companies concentrating on vehicle safety, from engineering vans through to the company’s largest delivery vehicles.

Mick Ledden, UK operations director said: “The conclusion of the merger projects in the operating businesses is the perfect time to launch our campaign and begin the process of improving awareness and knowledge across the UK Group. The whole organisation is committed at every level and stands firm in the belief that as market leader we take a stance to improve not only our organisation, but drive awareness and standards throughout our industry”.