safe by choice .not by chance - cdn. · pdf filerunway. metal brushes are not to be used and...

Safe by choice ….not by chance 02380 742222 [email protected] www.dyerandbutler.co.uk


Food for thought…

The Health and Safety Executive have recently published the annual safety statistics for the UK for 2014/15 and despite Britain remaining one of the safest countries to work in within Europe, the declared figures are a thought provoking reminder of why we need to keep safety at the forefront of everything that we do. The figures have reported that more than a million people are being made ill by their work which is costing the UK economy £14.3 billion per year. They also show that an estimated 27.3 million working days were lost due to work related ill health or injury in 2014/15 and in the same year 142 workers were killed whilst at work, and there were 611,000 other injuries in the workplace. The Health and Safety Executive’s Chair Judith Hackitt has stated “It’s encouraging that there have been improvements in injuries and ill health caused by work related activities. But behind the statistics are people, their families, friends, work colleagues, directly affected by something that’s gone wrong that is usually entirely preventable. Nobody should lose their life or become ill simply from doing their job. These figures show that despite the great strides and improvements made over the last 40 years since Britain’s health and safety regime was established, there is still more that can be done”. Health and safety at work is everybody’s responsibility. Dyer & Butler will continue to ensure that health and safety is at the heart of everything that we do and will make sure that our workforce are “safe by choice…not by chance”.

Steve Broom Head of Safety, Health, Environment, Quality and Training (SHEQT)

Safety Performance - September

Accident Frequency Rate – 0.117

Reportable Accidents or Incidents

21/9/15 – Syfini Bridge – An operative was using a hedge trimmer when he lost his grip on the machine due to having wet gloves. As the machine fell, the moving blades made contact with the tip of his finger causing a deep cut and damage to his nail bed. The operative was absent from work for more than 7 days.

Minor Accidents and Near Misses

1/9/15 – Nursling – An employee tripped and fell whilst carrying drinks up the stairs causing bruising to their knees.

1/9/15 – Gatwick Runway Repairs – A sweeper ejected metal fragments from the brush onto the runway. Metal brushes are not to be used and additional checks are being carried out.

7/9/15 – Bargoed Town Centre – A Heras fence panel that was leant against a nearby structure fell over narrowly missing personnel on site.

8/9/15 – Brockenhurst Bridge – Two incidents were reported where corrosion was seen to be hanging down from the underside of the bridge causing a hazard to passing trains. This was removed by Network Rail.

9/9/15 – CP24 Compound, Heathrow – Two incidents were reported where staff had received wasp stings after disturbing a nest in a pile of Melba blocks within the compound.

10/9/15 – Roundabout Resurfacing – An LV cable was struck and damaged due to it not being fully located along its entire length. Poor lighting in the area also contributed to the cable being struck.

11/9/15 – Queens Roundabout – A dumper was put into reverse, but move forwards. This as traced to a faulty solenoid.

14/9/15 – Nursling – An employee tripped and fell against a metal container in the yard and the sharp edge of window shutter caused a cut to their arm. The shutter was bent back in and the sharp edge was filed off.


15/9/15 – CSC Perimeter Fence – A small unchartered cable was struck and damaged during work to install a fence base on site. It was not picked up during the CAT and Genny survey

16/9/15 – Peel Common – An unchartered LV cable was struck and damaged during excavation work. It was not picked up during the CAT and Genny survey.

16/9/15 – Brockenhurst Bridge – Around 20 New Forest ponies stampeded through the site damaging the perimeter fencing.

17/9/15 – Peel Common – On two occasions a transit van was damaged when it was driven into a height restrictor bar that was located at the site access point.

17/9/15 – Peel Common – A dumper operator was performing a hill start when the dumper rolled forwards into the side of an excavator damaging the door panel.

18/9/15 – Ernsettle STOR Facility – An operative attempted to start a large floor saw that had seized up and in doing so strained his arm and wrist.

21/9/15 – S3 Fillets – The bulb on a set of tower lights blew causing the glass on the light to shatter. It is thought that the outer glass was already cracked.

21/9/15 – Southbourne Grove – an operative cut a metal band on a set of drainage covers whereby the band flipped back causing a deep cut to the back of the injured person’s hand.

23/9/15 – National Grid – Work was mistakenly carried out on trees that were protected with a tree protection order due to confusing information from the client and local council.

27/9/15 – Heathrow Yard – An operative twisted their ankle after alighting form their vehicle.

28/9/15 – Laira Depot – An operative strained their back whilst lifting an item of equipment off of the back of their vehicle.

29/9/15 – Block 41 Repairs – An operative trapped their finger between a steel plate and the wrench because the plate moved as the tension was released causing a trap point.

30/9/15 – Nursling Office – A contractor working on the window replacement works injured their hand when a defective sash window dropped onto their hand causing a cut to the back of their right hand.

Unchartered Services Report

During September 2015 we received 3 reports of any unchartered services being encountered on site.

Stop press..!

During the last week the company has been visited by our external auditors from BM Trada for the purpose of assessing our compliance levels to the BS 50001 Energy Management Standard.

Throughout the week, the auditor has visited a number of our offices and has been pleased with the standards of compliance that have been observed.

It is therefore a pleasure to report, that the Company has been “recommended for certification” to the BS 50001 Energy Management Standard.

The Dyer & Butler SHEQ Manager (Morwenna Vinall) and Quality Manager (Steve Holmes) have been managing the accreditation process and have managed to gain this accreditation without any non-conformances being raised. For a first accreditation, this truly is an exceptional result.

Our thanks also need to go out to everyone that assisted with the preparations for the audit such as the accounting department, the plant and transport department and the office management personnel based at the offices that were audited.

This accreditation represents a step change in the way that we monitor and manage our energy usage (i.e. gas, electricity and vehicle fuel) and as such, we now have the ability to be able to put in place simple energy efficiency measures that both save the company money, and protect the wider environment…A true Win, Win situation.


What are you suggesting…?

During a recent “You Said” comment, staff on site had asked for a general suggestion box to be provided on all sites to allow for general comments to be fed back to the management team.

This was discussed at board level and it was decided that the new QR code reporting system could be adapted to include a free text box where suggestions could be submitted in the same way that close calls are reported.

This change has now been made and is live on the system. Therefore, if you want to make a general suggestion, log onto the QR code close call system, scroll to the bottom of the page and follow the link to the suggestions page where you can record and submit your suggestion.

If you would like feedback on your suggestions, please remember to add your name so we can come back to you and let you know how your suggestion is progressing.

Safety nomination for Central

This month’s safety award nomination for the Central Region goes to Kevin Courtney. Kevin has recently joined Dyer & Butler and since starting with the company he has impressed colleagues by embracing the safety culture that exist within the region.

Kevin always sets a good example to those around him and is proactive at managing site hazards to ensure that the site operations can be completed safely.

Otter spotter nets a reward

During September, Dyer & Butler operative Michael Noonan was accompanying the geotechnical engineer on a site visit that was being undertaken adjacent to an inland waterway.

During the site visit, Michael spotted an otter in the watercourse and knowing that the otter is a protected species in the UK, he immediately reported the matter to the site team.

This has since been reported to the client in order for the works programme to be amended to afford this species the protection that it quite rightly deserves.

Well done Michael. A £25 voucher is on its way to you for taking the time to report this matter.

Standardising FFP3 protection

For many years now Dyer & Butler have specified the use of FFP3 disposable face masks as the minimum standard for general respiratory protection that will be used across all our sites. With the company moving towards improving its face fit testing compliance levels we have now agreed that the best mask to select is the 3030V FFP3 disposable respirator as supplied by Safeaid Supplies Ltd.

A £25 voucher is on its way to you Kevin. Keep up the good work.


It was assessed as being the most suitable for the works that we carry out, which is mainly to protect against inhalable and respirable dust, including silica dust. This disposable respirator has been chosen because it offers the best in terms of…

Improved comfort Superior fit with a high pass rate during face fit

testing Low profile valve, reducing heat and moisture

build up Full inner soft face seal to improve comfort and

overall fit 4 point adjustment straps for an improved fit

and comfort Pre-formed nose-bridge which provides a

comfortable fit and eliminates the need for regular adjustment

Lightweight cup shaped respirator Completely metal free

PPE should always be considered as the “last resort” and all works should be properly planned and to reduce any hazards at source.

If you need any assistance with selecting the correct respiratory protection, or have any staff who need to be face fit tested, please contact your Regional SHEQ Advisor.

Hoodies…still banned

With the colder winter months approaching we have started to see an increase in people wearing hoodies on site.

Please be reminded that Hoodies are banned on all sites as they can impair your hearing and affect your awareness of approaching hazards (i.e. vehicles, trains etc). They also often have cords and strings associated with them that can become entangled in moving machinery. If you are going to be working in cold weather, purpose made hat liners and balaclavas with hearing vents should be used.

Start to make preparations for the cold now…!

“Safety Matters” strikes a chord

Nothing is more pleasing than when we see the information and guidance that is communicated out through “Safety Matters” actually making a difference on site.

You will remember that last month, we ran an article on the importance of storing your PPE securely and in such a way as to prevent it from getting contaminated or damaged.

As a result of this Piotr Fuksa procured a plastic box and transferred his PPE from where it was stored in the van into the box to ensure that it was stored safely and securely in the works vehicle.

Southern safety nomination

Good health and safety management on site requires a lot of effort and this must cover not only the activities and conduct of personnel on site, but also the documentation that supports this.

It is therefore pleasing to receive a safety award nomination for Craig Windebank who has been identified as being particularly pro-active and diligent in his work to implement the company policies and procedures at his place of work.

Well done Piotr…A £25 voucher is on its way to you for taking personal responsibility for the way that you manage your PPE.

Well done Craig…A £25 voucher is on its way to you for setting the standard on site.


Know your limits..!

The Christmas lights are already being switched on in the shopping centres and it won’t be long before you can’t move for tinsel, reindeer and mistletoe. Christmas is also a time for parties and festivities and more often than not alcohol will play a part in making sure that everyone has a very “merry” Christmas.

It is well known that drinking alcohol affects your ability, performance and judgement. Therefore the effects of drink (and drugs) have no place within the workplace. Even relatively small amounts of alcohol (one or two units) will affect the way that you behave and it for this reason that Dyer & Butler operates a strict workplace drugs and alcohol policy.

The chart below indicates the unit value of the most common types of drink. On average, the human body can process one unit of alcohol every hour. Therefore, if you are planning on working after having a drink, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are fit for work.

If you are in any doubt, do not drive and do not turn up for work under the influence of drink (or drugs)…It is simply not worth the risk..!

Dyer & Butler have a zero tolerance approach in relation to drink and drug related issues associated with work and we regularly undertake random, for cause and post incident related testing to ensure that drink and drugs was not involved in any work related incidents.

Make sure that you know your limits, don’t take any chances and enjoy alcohol responsibly during the festive period.

Reporting accurately

Over the last month or so we have received a number of reports involving incidents and close calls where the details submitted at the time of making the report have been incomplete, inaccurate or confusing.

Although the levels of safety reporting within the business are excellent, it is also important that the details associate with these reports are as accurate as they can be.

Therefore please ensure that when making a report, it is completed properly and contains all of the information that might be needed by the person receiving it.

Quick thinking prevents an environmental incident

A serious environmental incident was narrowly avoided during September only through the quick thinking and actions of the Dyer & Butler Ganger, Andrew Baker from the airports Team at Gatwick Andy along with a Pro-tech machine operator prevented a hydraulic oil leak into Crawters Brook when the casing of the flail machine that they were using cracked.

This defect was spotted by Andy and by quickly deploying the site spill kit and carefully removing the remaining oil from the casing Andy was able to ensure that there was no leakage of oil into the ground or into the nearby Crawters Brook.

Excellent work Andy…A £25 voucher is on its way to you for preventing what could have been a significant environmental incident.


Industry Common Induction (ICI) for rail projects

The Industry Common Induction (ICI) for railway works has now been mandated across all Infrastructure Projects (IP) sponsored sites from 1st June 2016 as well for London Underground (LUL). It will mean that staff who are not already Personal Track Safety (PTS) holders need to be sponsored and the ICI will be recorded on a Sentinel Card if they are required to work on these sites.

Proportionate briefings will be adequate for certain visitors to sites but at this time we believe that contractors who wish to access the site and wish to use the current Track Visitor Permit systems (TVP) will also have to have an ICI.

The ICI covers the safety procedures and risks that are common across the rail industry, whatever the role and type of site. It consists of an E-Learning module and requires attendance at a test centre to complete a multiple choice test, for LUL an extra module will be necessary.

We are currently working on a programme to deliver this training to the organisation and would ask for your support to complete the training when we are ready to roll it out.

Further information is available, as always, within the pages of the Network Rail Safety Central website

https://www.safety.networkrail.co.uk/On-site-Solutions/Industry-Common-Induction

A copy of the E-Learning package is also available on the web site.

For more information please contact the Training Manager, Andrea Parker or the Assurance Manager, Allan Guy at Head Office.

Safe excavation work at Heathrow rewarded

During September Dyer & Butler Operative, Robert Reid from the Airports team at Heathrow was nominated for a safety award for working safely around shallow unchartered services on the Central Bus Station paving slab replacement project. Robert also received special praise from the client in relation to the way he dealt with and protected the services during the works.

E-learning reminder

Several months ago, all current employees within Dyer & Butler were provided with a log in for the electronic learning system and as such all employees were allocated with a certain number of e-learning courses to complete (depending on the persons role within the company). Compliance totals have slowly been creeping up and people are gradually completing their e-learning. At the time of going to press the compliance total was standing at 34%.

Please could all staff make a concerted effort to complete their e-learning packages as we move towards the end of 2015.

A review of all outstanding training will be undertaken during November and any employees that have not completed their allotted e-learning will receive a further reminder to complete their training. If you need any assistance in relation to gaining access into the e-learning system, please contact the Training Manager, Andrea Parker.

Congratulations Robert. A £25 voucher is making its way to you for maintaining high standards of safety in connection with work involving buried services


Dyer & Butler Behavioural Safety (DABBS) Feedback

Dyer & Butler operates a behavioural safety system which involves trained “Observers” carrying out a specified number of workplace observations to identify safe and unsafe acts. One DABBS observation must be carried out for every 500 man hours that are worked.

During September 364 DABBS observations were carried out. The target was 255.

52 of the behavioural safety observations that took place identified unsafe acts.

A summary of the main unsafe acts raised during the DABBS observations is shown below…

Equipment Work at Height PPE Noise and Vibration Confined Spaces

Using faulty or defective equipment

Not having the correct equipment to hand to

complete the task safely

Inappropriate precautions taken to

prevent a fall

Not following the method statement for

work at height

Access to the work at height was unsuitable

Working from an unsafe platform

Personnel were not wearing the correct

level of eye protection on site

Personnel were not wearing the correct

mandatory PPE on site

The equipment used to monitor vibration was not available / not to

hand

Staff were observed to be attempting to enter

a confined space without the required level of emergency access and retrieval

equipment

WHAT CAN YOU DO DIFFERENTLY ON SITE TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF UNSAFE BEHAVIOUR..?

The most common causes of unsafe acts that has been recorded is still people who are unwilling to follow the safe system of work. DABBS observers have now been asked to provide specific information as part of their DABBS report to understand why the “unwilling to follow the safe system of work” classification applies.

The results of this information will be reviewed and fed back during subsequent editions of “Safety Matters” Please can you discuss the reasons for these results as part of the cascade briefing and feedback any thoughts or conclusions.

Train struck and damaged by location cabinet door within tunnel Issued to: All Network Rail line managers,

safety professionals and Achilles registered contractors

Ref: NRL 15/04

Date of issue: 16/10/2015

Location: Watford Tunnel

Contact: Geoff Norman, H&S Manager, IP Southern

Damage to train

Overview During project works new location cabinets were installed in the tunnels at Watford. Following overnight signal testing a London Midland passenger service travelling through the tunnel experienced an emergency brake application. On investigation the driver found that a train door had become damaged and that a number of passengers had been showered in glass. Further inspection of the tunnel found that the train had struck the door of a location cabinet within the tunnel.

The location cabinet door had been pulled off its hinges and forced up, striking the wall of the tunnel and then hitting the train door. The industry investigation identified that the location cabinet door had not been properly closed and secured. The hinged doors when in the open position were foul to gauge.

Underlying causes Safe by Design

The risk of an open location cabinet door being struck by a train was not identified during the design phase.

An assessment of the risk associated with the positioning and maintainability of

Working in the location cabinets

The method of work adopted for testing (working in multiple cabinets) made it more likely that a door would be left unsecured.

the location cabinets (including a review of potential human error) within the tunnels was not undertaken.

The type of location cabinet used was not assessed when the design was modified from that detailed in the product approval.

Lighting

Task lighting was insufficient to identify that the location cabinet doors had been left ajar.

There was no process in place for the padlocking or security of the location cabinets within the tunnel.

Previous incidents of trains striking location cabinets within Watford Tunnel

The lessons from two previous events (1992 and 2000) where trains struck the doors of location cabinets within Watford Tunnel were not available to the project in order to help in identifying and determining risk.

Key message

Equipment that requires regular accessfor inspection or maintenance should be located outside of locations with restricted access.

Where it is necessary to specifying equipment for use in restricted clearances it is essential to assess and mitigate the risk of any part of it being struck by a train, including in a failed state.

Testing procedures should be organised so as to prevent a door being left unsecured and include a process for checking and securing.

Part of our group of Safety Bulletins

S&SD COMMITTED TO THE SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE DELIVERY OF GWRM

Mobile Tower safe use / best practice • Towers must be erected by trained persons holding PASMA or similar competency, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and inspected prior to use.• Users must be briefed in both the safe use and limitations of the towers. • Towers must always be erected on a firm level base and when parked or in use must have all four wheel brakes applied.

• Outriggers must be used if the height of the tower requires.• Personnel must descend from platforms every time towers are moved.• If using towers on platforms, additional means of preventing a tower travelling over the edge must be applied e.g. secured stop blocks. These additional precautions must be clearly identified in both Work Package Plans and Task Briefing Sheets.

SCAFFOLD OVERTURN – DIDCOT

S&SD COMMITTED TO THE SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE DELIVERY OF GWRM

GWRMSAFETY ALERT

Safety & Sustainable Development

INCIDENT BACKGROUND/CIRCUMSTANCESOn 11th October 2015 a mobile aluminium scaffold tower – being used in a possession to fix dagger boards to a platform canopy – toppled from the platform and came to rest on the track. The operative fell with the tower a distance of about 3.5m and sustained a number of injuries including minor fractures to his face.

The accident is currently the subject of a Local Investigation. Further details will be communicated in due course however, in the interim, those using mobile towers are required to undertake a review and ensure the best practice identified below is being followed:

safe by choice .not by chance - cdn. · pdf filerunway. metal brushes are not to be used and...

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