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Worker involvement: 45
Safety representative’s initiative
Hanson Aggregates > Vaynor Quarry near Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales > 01685 723355
Known within Hanson as “The Vaynor Initiative”, credit goes to Colin Evans, coated stone plant operator at
Vaynor Quarry (near Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales) who took it upon himself to organise, with the support
of management, a full week of training as a contribution to the European Health & Safety Week.
Colin is also a T&G Union appointed safety representative and the idea emanated from a TUC mailshot.
Each day, for a week, a talk was organised by Colin at 3pm in the quarry canteen. Speakers included
Hanson safety specialists, the local HSE Inspector, a superintendent physiotherapist from a nearby
hospital, and a speaker from the TGWU.
The success of this initiative was taken up by other Hanson units in South Wales. Hanson and Colin Evans
have been presented with both a regional and national Award by the HSE for the Vaynor Initiative, and
Colin has since been awarded with an MBE.
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Target Zero
Tarmac Central > 01298 768494
Tarmac’s target of zero lost-time injuries acts as an umbrella for the many initiatives and changes aimed
at gaining and improving worker participation.
A Safety Charter has been developed. Each employee and their manager are asked to sign it on a one-toone
basis, after discussion of common guidelines. Directors and senior managers have nearly all attended
a 1 day “Directing Safely” IOSH-accredited training course, whilst managers have taken a 4 day IOSHaccredited
“Working Safely” course.
These training opportunities were followed up by a Safety Training Review which involved a series of
interviews with a large number of employees at all levels, to identify both good and bad practice with
regard to safety training. There is also a programme of training for all employee representatives. Safety
promotion is considered important to keep the messages fresh. In additional to mugs, pens, etc, (for the
sites); posters, screensavers, and mouse mats help to convey the message.
Safety Task Audits have been based on the Du Pont system, which can be summarised thus:
• stop and observe work activity
• discuss activity with operatives
• ask what is the worst that could happen
• praise aspects of safe behaviour
• question unsafe behaviour
• identify corrective action
• gain commitment to act
By ways of results, Tarmac Central (approximately 2,400 employees) recorded 74 lost-time injuries in the
year 2000. This reduced to 53 in 2001 and 36 in 2002.