OD News Winter 2020

NEWS 2020 

O’D News 

Driving sustainability - Delivering excellence 

Inside this edition: 

O’Donovan side guards 

Showing our appreciation for 

the NHS 

Read more on page 8 

RoSPA Silver 

Celebrating a RoSPA health and 

safety award 


Double Fellowship 

Jacqueline’s been made a 

Fellow twice 


0800 731 3332 sales@odonovan.co.uk odonovan.co.uk /OdonovanWasteDisposal @O’DonovanWaste

OdonovanWasteDisposal 

@ODonovanWaste NEWS 2020 

Welcome from 

Jacqueline O’Donovan 

>2 

I never envisaged when writing the last newsletter that this edition 

would be looking at the effects of a global pandemic on all our lives. 

Needless to say things have changed dramatically this year, not least 

to the way we’re working as a business. 

Throughout lockdown we continued to operate, albeit in completely 

new conditions, with the safety, health and wellbeing of our staff 

and customers our highest priority as always. Even now as we’re 

getting used to our ‘new normal’ we cannot afford to be complacent 

and as employers it’s our duty to ensure our teams are prepared and 

supported. 

In addition to developing new working practices during lockdown, we 

also were keen to continue supporting our local communities where 

possible, as these were hardest hit. You’ll see some of what we were up to throughout this edition 

of O’D News - hopefully we were able to bring cheer to those in need. 

Some good news now: we were thrilled to have been awarded a RoSPA Silver health and safety 

award in September. We also won a Construction News Specialists Award, more on this opposite. 

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas. Stay safe and keep well. 

Jacqueline O’Donovan 

Managing Director 

Covid secure 

We have continued to operate with new measures in place to 

ensure staff and customers alike feel safe in the knowledge 

we’re doing all we can to minimise risk. 

So that we were able to maintain business continuity, we 

quickly implemented a series of robust procedures, including, 

making sure all staff had the very latest information and 

government guidance and were aware of what was required of 

them in terms of social distancing, hand washing and general 

hygiene. These measures extended to our offices, depots and 

whilst on the road. 

For all our deliveries we are now working in a ‘contactless’ way, 

meaning we do not require signatures from site staff - our 

drivers take note of the relevant person on site and record it on 

our documents - this is the simplest way to keep our customers 

and staff safe. 



/OdonovanWasteDisposal 

@ODonovanWaste 

RoSPA Award 

In September we celebrated after landing an internationally-recognised award for our health and 

safety standards. The RoSPA Silver Award commends high 

levels of performance, underpinned by good management 

systems that deliver consistent improvements in health and 

safety standards. 

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of qualifications, awards and events, 

said: “The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of 

its kind in the UK, but it receives entries from organisations 

around the world, making it one of the most sought-after global accolades in health and safety. 

“RoSPA wants every employee, wherever they are, to work safe in the knowledge that they will be 

going home unharmed and healthy at the end of every day. The RoSPA Award winners are vital to 

help achieve this goal, as by entering they are driving up standards and setting new benchmarks 

for organisations everywhere. Currently, around 7million people are directly impacted by the 

RoSPA Awards, but the scheme’s influence is even wider”. 

Construction News Specialist awards 

The team picked up the competitive Training Category award at this 

year’s Construction News Specialists Awards. We were selected for 

our top-down focus and commitment to staff education, including 

our driver courses, real-time operational management data 

collection and our innovative wellbeing training programme. 

Jacqueline said, “To receive such a respected industry award is a tremendous achievement for all 

the team and testament to the hard work we put in collectively to ensure that our staff have the 

skills, knowledge and confidence to operate as professionally and safely as possible.” 

The judges commented “O’Donovan’s commitment to training and development has improved 

every aspect of their business and has had a positive measurable impact. Their extensive 

engagement with schools, the community, emergency services and politicians are commendable. 

Strong personal leadership from the top of this business radiates beyond their organisation.” 

Operating at FORS Gold standards 

Because we work above and beyond best practice standards, 

and as a FORS Gold operator, we already had the means in place 

to deal with some of the challenges posed by Covid-19. 

For example we use tablets for our daily walkaround checks on 

all our vehicles, which help to minimise the interaction between 

staff. 

In some areas the street-scapes have changed to allow for 

social distancing or to provide extra cycle lanes. We already 

had all of the relevant technology on all of our vehicles and our 

drivers are trained to the highest standards so we were well 

prepared to deal with this increase in vulnerable road users. 

>3 


OdonovanWasteDisposal @ODonovanWaste 


In the news 

>4 





Two Fellowships for Jacqueline 

In August Jacqueline was made a Fellow of the 

International Institute of Risk & Safety Management 

(IIRSM) having been a specialist member for a number of 

years. The fellowship status recognises individuals who 

are changing the way organisations think and approach the 

management of risk and use their expertise and experience 

to deliver long-term value to both their organisation and 

profession. In achieving this fellowship, Jacqueline has 

demonstrated her experience in operating at the highest 

levels within the industry. 

Philip Pearson, CEO of IIRSM said “We are delighted that 

Jacqueline has achieved Fellowship of the Institute 

which demonstrates her commitment, vast knowledge and experience of working in the sector. 

Fellowship recognises senior professionals who are changing the way organisations think and how 

they approach the management of risk and who use their expertise and experience to deliver longterm 

value. Jacqueline joins a group of peers who are committed to giving back to their profession.” 

Just a month before Jacqueline was also made a Fellow of 

the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), 

joining a group of elite industry professionals. As the leading 

professional body for resource and waste professionals, CIWM 

is the voice of the sector and represents over 5,500 individuals 

in the UK and overseas. The institution has a unique standing 

in the sector and its professional knowledge and trusted 

reputation informs and influences legislation and policy, playing 

a vital part in shaping the future role and reputation of the 

sector. 

Jacqueline said “I’m delighted to have been appointed a 

Fellow of the CIWM. It is an honour to achieve this level 

of recognition within such an esteemed Institution and 

it stands as testament to the achievements of the whole 

O’Donovan team in working towards industry best practice.” 

Feeding our community 

Throughout lockdown and beyond we’ve been 

doing what we can to help provide much needed 

food items to our neighbours. 

We’ve provided fruit and veg for the London Irish 

Centre who were making food parcels and on 

a recent dress down Friday we collected some 

much needed items for the Trussell Trust who has 

supported families during the pandemic. 

>5 


OdonovanWasteDisposal 



Teaming up with Construction Waste Portal 

In order to encourage better resource management and reuse 

of construction waste, we’ve partnered with Construction 

Waste Portal. The smart system collects and analyses data from 

completed projects across the UK, enabling accurate forecasting, 

costing and reporting of waste generated from site. The portal then uses predictive algorithms 

based on waste collected, helping buyers and planners calculate, manage, reduce, and prevent 

wastage on construction projects. 

Jacqueline O’Donovan commented: “The construction and associated industries are focusing on 

sustainable design that is improving all the time. Waste management is a vital part of the whole 

life of a building from design, planning, construction, operation – right up to de-construction. With 

Net-Zero targets set for 2050, we need to participate in achieving more sustainable goals. The 

Construction Waste Portal uses innovation to help the construction and waste sectors join forces to 

become more resourceful and work towards our collective Net-Zero environmental impact without 

compromising safety”. 

John Logan, Founder of Construction Waste Portal, said “The Portal will lead industry change on 

resource efficiency best practice by connecting construction projects with companies in the waste 

sector who aspire to be the elite. Having a reputation for excellence, I’m delighted that O’Donovan 

have endorsed our ambition by signing up to the website”. 

Remote lifting equipment for skips 

We’ve invested in remote lifting equipment for our fleet of 

skip lorries, meaning our team can use handheld control 

panels during the skip lifting. This helps ensure all-round 

safety of the procedure, as it means the drivers are able to 

walk and observe lifting from vantage points around the 

vehicle and at a safe distance. 

We’ve had positive feedback from the drivers, with comments 

on ease of use, safety and efficiency. This new system, 

combined with our automated sheeting makes our skip 

service even safer, as it further reduces the risks associated 

with collecting and exchanging skips. 

Out and about 

>6 



Managing anxiety 



BITA announces Jacqueline as Patron 

Jacqueline has been invited to become a Patron of The British and Irish Trading Alliance (BITA), a 

non-profit membership organisation which encourages members to build relationships to generate 

business through networking, educational and social events held in both countries. Its core mission 

is to promote and strengthen trade between both countries through a friendly, driven and diverse 

group of like-minded professionals. 

Jacqueline will be BITA’s first female Patron and will join an respected group of existing Patrons 

including John Flemming of Tide Construction, Michael O’Flynn, of the O’Flynn Group, Ray O’Rourke 

of Laing O’Rourke, Sean Mulryan of Ballymore, Sean O’Driscoll of Glen Dimplex, Sean Carrigy of P J 

Hegarty & Sons and Brian and Luke Comer of The Comer Group. 

Paul Whitnell, President of BITA said “Jacqueline is a powerhouse who will no doubt demonstrate 

her knowledge and expertise to help business growth as well as adding some much needed 

diversity to our Patronage”. 

Jacqueline commented “I am delighted to join BITA as 

a Patron member and to have encountered the new 

interactions and variety that will emerge through helping 

champion and supporting great business opportunities. 

I look forward to assisting positive connections whilst 

contributing new ideas and approaches, collaborating with 

members who already play a vital and influential role in the 

business community in both the UK and Ireland”. 

Anxiety is a common feeling that 

everyone experiences at some stage. 

It can be a normal emotional response 

to many stressful situations. Now, 

more than ever, more of us are likely 

to experience anxiety, but support is 

available. 

How to get help 

There is a range of support and 

information to help anyone 

experiencing anxiety. Talking 

therapies, support groups and 

medication can all be effective. 

Your GP can help you with medication 

and therapy, but your local library and 

Citizens Advice Bureau will also have 

details of support groups near you. 

You can learn a lot about managing 

anxiety from others who have experienced it. Local support groups bring together people with 

similar experiences to share and encourage others. 

>7 


NHS - recognising our country’s heroes 

In lockdown we kitted out our vehicles with some special side 

guards - to thank all the NHS staff for the unprecedented 

work they were doing. 

National charity convoy 

In May we took part in a Nationwide convoy of drivers to 

help raise money for local food banks. 

We took to the M25 with other HGV drivers and it’s great 

to see that over £11,000 was raised at a time when 

foodbanks were under extreme pressure. 

PPE Donations 

At the beginning of lockdown we donated 

surplus PPE to our local 

hospitals, in a bid to help 

with the critical shortage. 

NHS Treats 

We were pleased to be able to send a treat 

as a thank you to our local NHS workers at 

the North Middleesex University Hospital. 

>Email 

sales@odonovan.co.uk 

>Call 

0800 731 3332 

>Twitter 


> Find us on Facebook 


>Web 

odonovan.co.uk

OD News Winter 2020

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