Safer For All Issue 10

Issue 10 • Summer 2022

Defibrillators installed at all Homes sites In this issue...

Driver and pedestrian safety Near misses – you said, we did Employee and contractor health and safety Chance to win £30

Lifesaving investment Homes’ has installed defibrillators at all its sites to provide a potentially lifesaving tool to be used on anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest. The defibrillators provide clear audible and visual instructions enabling people who haven’t been given any training to use them.

Defibrillators are located at some of Hills’ other sites: • Quarry Products’ Shorncote and Woodsford sites • Waste Solutions’ Northacre Resource Recovery Centre in Westbury and Sands Farm in Calne, Lower Compton and at Purton Household Recycling Centre • County Park office in Swindon.

Anthony Shirley, Site Manager – Homes, pictured with a defibrillator on site.

If a colleague or visitor has a health emergency, contact 999 in the first instance. There are first aid trained colleagues at every Hills site. Trained colleagues are listed at each site office or reception area.

Learn CPR in 15 minutes You never know when you'll need to give someone CPR – it may save the life of a friend, family member or a colleague. Administering CPR can more than double the chance of survival.

The British Heart Foundation is offering a free 15 minute training session you can do from your mobile phone, tablet or laptop. To join a session, visit: bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-tosave-a-life/how-to-do-cpr/learn-cpr-in15-minutes

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Near miss reporting remains one of the strongest tools we have to help maintain high standards of health and safety across our work places.

Our newly-designed near miss booklet and updated online reporting system now includes a risk score to help focus on the potential harm that could have resulted if a near miss had not been identified.

Don’t walk on by – if you see a potential hazard or near miss incident STOP work, TAKE ACTION to mitigate the immediate risk if safe to do so, and REPORT to the site manager or your line manager. Then complete a near miss report so your experience can be recorded and shared to keep our work places SAFER FOR ALL. Mike Hill, Chief Executive

RIDDORS and Near Misses RIDDORS

Near Misses

(per financial year 01 May to 30 April)

(per financial year 01 May to 30 April)

6

361 241

221

There were a total of six RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) incidents across the Group during the 2021/22 financial year with Waste Solutions, Quarry Products and Homes each reporting two incidents.

2 1 2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

3

Contractor management for safer working A contractor is anyone the company asks to do work on its behalf, typically in construction, maintenance or service repairs. Both Hills and its contractors have responsibilities under health and safety law to manage the risks of workplace dangers to employees and the public.

Hills sources appropriate contractors to work across all its sites. Paul Elling, Compliance Manager Waste Solutions said: “As part of our ‘Safer for All’ culture, the safety and health of contractors working on our sites is of the utmost importance. We carefully select and work closely with our contractors to ensure they are suitably competent and have relevant processes and procedures in place so we can be assured of their commitment to health and safety.”

If you see a contractor working unsafely, ask them to STOP, inform the site manager and report it as a near miss.

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What does Hills do to minimise risk in contractor management?

1. Identifies the job and all aspects of the work we want the contractor to do. Consider the health and safety implications. Provide potential contractors with this information.

2. Selects a suitable contractor who can do the job safely. Ensuring the competence of the contractor for the complexity of the job.

3. Assesses any risks of the planned work to employees and members of the public by having contractors on site. Agrees the measures needed to control risk with the contractor before work starts.

4. Cooperates and coordinates with the contractor to make sure the work can be done safely and without risks to health.

5. Consults employees on health and safety matters. Discussing how the contractor’s work will affect their health and safety and how to raise any concerns they may have about the contractors and their work.

6. Manages and supervises contractors’ work regularly. Measures are put in place to be consistent with the level of risk, ie the greater the risk the more checking of work needs to be done.

5

Near miss reporting book updated The company’s near miss reporting book and online form now requires the user to state the potential risk of injury or damage that could have occurred by using three risk categories: Low, Medium and High: Low: Could have resulted in a minor injury or surface damage to property or equipment.

Medium: Could have resulted in a serious injury (more than first aid) or moderate damage to property or equipment resulting in repair.

High: Could have resulted in loss of limb, bone fracture or death or damage to property or equipment meaning suspended operations or damage beyond repair.

Request your copy of the near miss reporting book from your manager.

s Report

Unsafe ac t

Health an

d safety

Form

Ref no:

37501

Unsafe co

ndition Please circle potential ris Environmen k of injury t or da ma Low / Med ge that could ium / High have occurre d: Name: .......... ......................... ......................... .................... Op Site: ............... eration: ..... ......................... ......................... ......................... ....................... .................... Da Place of inc te: ............... ......................... ident: .......... ......................... ......................... ..... .............. Tim iss?

Details: ..... that e of incide ......................... a near m nt: .................... workplace ......................... ..................

What is ent in the ......................... ition pres nd ......................... ......................... co or t ......................... ......................... t, ac en ev ......................... y ..... k .....

An ......................... at ris : ty ... to fe ty ..... sa ili ..... ......................... ......................... health or has the ab ......................... ......................... ......................... a person’s ......................... ry ........ rm or put ......................... ne ha hi e ac us m .........................

Immediate • Ca operty or ......................... action take ......................... mage to pr n / any reco ... mmendatio • Cause da ......................... nment n: .................... ro vi en ..... e ..... ......................... th ......................... .................. .........................

• Pollute . ..... ..... ns . ..... io ok ..... ..... at ......................... ......................... bo oper ......................... ......................... using this • Disrupt ....................... ......................... report it ......................... e above, Reported ......................... one of th to ..... ss : ..... ......................... ne ..... it ..... ......................... ..................

If you w ..... ..... ............... Sig ned: ............... copy (pink). ......................... one carbon ....................

THANK YO form and nager / e Ma hit e w Lin p U FOR TA of a to be to your KING THE is made up return both copies nager, will TIME TO This book ur Line Ma d REPORT ned by yo the form an A NEAR M py, once sig Complete co k ISS pin e r. Th rds. co Ma re na Superviso ur ger/Super for yo u yo vis to or action take returned n: .................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ......................... ... ......................... .........................

Date actio ......................... ned: ............... ......................... ......................... ... .........................

Action sig ......................... ned off (b ......................... y Manage ......................... r/Supervis . or): ...............

Residual ris ......................... k of injury ......................... or damage reoccurrenc ........ following e of incide ‘Ac tion taken’ nt: Low / to address Medium / High

SS NEAR MI NG I T R O P E R

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Near Mis

How to report a near miss If you have seen something that isn’t safe, tell us about it.

All near misses can be reported using any one of these: What is a nea

r mis

s?

Any even t, act has the abili or condition pres ent in the ty to: workplac e that • Cause harm or put a pers on’s health • Cause dam or safety age to prop at risk erty or mac • Pollute hinery the environm ent • Disrupt operation s.

If you witn ess one of the abov e, report it using this book.

This book is made up of Complete the form and a top white form and Superviso one carbo return both r. The pink n copy (pink copies to copy, ). returned to your Line Manager / you for your once signed by your Line Mana records. ger, will be

NEAR MIS S REPORTIN G

Your near miss booklet and hand it to your line manager.

The near miss report webpage.

Search “hills group near miss”.

The icon on your company mobile or laptop.

SEE IT, REPORT IT, PREVENT IT

hills-group.co.uk/nearmiss

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Near Miss Reporting

300 unsafe acts or conditions

You said, we did...

29 minor accidents

Heinrich’s Accident Triangle theory predicts that for every 300 near miss incidents there will be 29 minor and one major accident. Preventing unsafe acts and unsafe conditions will lead to fewer accidents. Here is a selection of recently reported near misses and the actions taken. All near miss incidents can be viewed on eTouch.

accident

Incident

Action taken

While walking along the pedestrian area within the Wiltshire House car park, a car cut across in front of me into a parking space at great speed.

Reported by Lynette Hemming Senior Accounts Clerk, Homes

Email sent to remind County Park based employees of the site rules and speed limit on the estate road and around the building, the one way system and marked pedestrian areas.

Incident

Action taken

Several colleagues were smoking near the exit doors of tipping hall at recycled materials facility and not in the designated area.

Reported by Neil Luce Area Depot Manager, Waste Solutions

I spoke to the individuals and reminded them of the requirement to smoke in the site's designated smoking area only.

Incident

Action taken

Hills' driver outside of cab not wearing a hard hat when required to do so.

Reported by Dave Meakin Site Manager, Waste Solutions

8

1 major

I reminded the driver of the requirement to wear PPE when instructed to do so.

Incident The front of a Hills lorry was extremely dirty and all headlights/sidelights and indicators completely covered which is illegal.

Reported by Nathan Carr Divisional Fleet Manager, Waste Solutions

Incident After delivery, a Hills driver left a concrete plant site with part of his vehicle tailgate open, causing some remaining product in the vehicle trailer to be deposited in the site entrance and along a public road.

Reported by Stephen Cope, Concrete Operations Assistant, Quarry Products

Incident A manhole cover around the back of concrete plant was not put back in place properly causing a trip hazard.

Reported by Peter Robinson, Concrete Plant Manager, Quarry Products

Incident Someone had opened an access hatch in crash decking which dislodged one of the supports.

A roofing joiner stepped on this unsupported corner. He lost his balance and fell onto supported sections of crash decking.

Reported by Darren Cawkwell, Assistant Site Manager, Homes

Action taken

I reported this to the driver's line manager and the vehicle was cleaned the same day.

Action taken Informed plant manager of unsafe act.

Any product left inside vehicle trailer and close tailgate should be removed prior to leaving site. Road sweeper sent out.

Action taken

Made safe. This is a reminder to make sure all covers are replaced where they should be after working.

Action taken Checked nobody was hurt and then closed the access hatch and repositioned the support leg, visually inspected other crash decking. Reported to line manager.

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Dangers of driving whilst dehydrated Research* has shown that 55% of motorists drink less than the recommended 1.2 litres of water per day and that driving while dehydrated has the potential to be as dangerous as drink-driving.

In the study:

60 70 80 50 40 30 20

REHY REHY RE REHYDRATE YDR YDRATE DRAT ATEE NOW AT NOW NO

• 59% of dehydrated drivers reported loss of concentration • 47% reported loss of focus • 42% reported slower reaction times Stay hydrated with the following tips: 1 Bring enough fluids to stay hydrated during your journey (one glass of water for each hour in your vehicle).

2 Avoid excessive amounts of caffeinated drinks as these can contribute to dehydration 3 Keep the vehicle interior cool as a hot environment can accelerate dehydration. *from vehicle leasing company Leasing Options.

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Beat the heat Working outside in direct sunlight and extreme heat could damage your health and precautions should be taken.

During heatwaves and working in hot environments you may get dehydrated which can lead to two forms of heat stress: ‘heat exhaustion’ and the more severe disorder ‘heat stroke’.

Symptoms to look out for Heat exhaustion Heat stroke • Fatigue • Hot skin • Giddiness • Confusion • Nausea • Convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness • Headache • Can result in death if not detected early • Moist skin Precautions to take • Cover up by wearing issued PPE and seek shade when possible especially during your breaks and lunchtime • Apply a high factor sunscreen of at least SPF30 on potentially exposed skin 30 minutes before exposure.

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Safer driving To promote safer driving across the business Hills partnered with the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) to deliver the hard-hitting ‘Safe Drive, Stay Alive’ campaign.

The Safe Drive Stay Alive presentation was attended by almost 400 employees across the company.

It covered what is commonly referred to as the Fatal Four: 1 The distraction of mobile phones 2 drink and drugs 3 speed and 4 non-use of seatbelts.

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Here is a reminder of the law and dangers of the Fatal Four while driving…

1 Mobile phone and handheld devices: It is illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any handheld device that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle.

Offenders can be banned from driving and receive a maximum fine of £1,000 or up to £2,500 for LGV drivers.

2 Drink and drugs: You could be imprisoned, banned from driving and face a fine if you’re found guilty of drink or drug-driving.

4 The importance of wearing a seatbelt: One click could change your life. You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat you’re using.

Find out more at gov.uk/seat-belts-law

There are strict alcohol limits for drivers, but it’s impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals it’s different for each person.

The company reserves the right to request that you undertake testing in circumstances when they believe either alcohol or drugs have played a contributing factor in an accident or near miss.

3 Speed: The speed limit is the absolute maximum - it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive at this speed in all conditions.

Drive to the conditions not the speed limit.

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Pedestrian safety Remember ‘thumbs up’ • Pedestrians should give a thumbs up sign to LGV/plant drivers before they attempt to walk past the vehicle or enter the working area of the vehicle • Drivers should visually acknowledge the pedestrian and return a thumbs up only when it is safe for them to pass the vehicle or enter the working area of the vehicle

Giving and returning a thumbs up takes no effort, but can have life-saving consequences for you and other colleagues on site.

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Wait for driver’s thumbs up before you pass...

Remember the importance of wearing the correct high-vis PPE and following designated pedestrian routes on all sites!

Fire and emergency evacuation procedures You should regularly familiarise yourself with the fire escape routes, the location of fire alarm points and where to assemble in the event of a fire, at your place of work. Fire plans and named fire marshalls can be found on health and safety notice boards.

If you discover or suspect a fire:

If you hear the fire alarm:

• operate the nearest fire alarm call point

• leave the building by the nearest available exit

• never put yourself at risk

• do not stop to collect personal belongings

• leave the building by the nearest available exit

• go to the assembly point

• do not stop to collect personal belongings

• you must not go back into the building until the Fire Service, or an appointed fire marshal say it is safe to do so.

• do not use a lift • go to your assembly point.

In the event of an emergency the company will try to contact you directly or by posting information on The Hills Group website. You may call the emergency phone line 020 8242 6094 for up-to-date employee information.

15

Risk assessment training Quarry Products’ employees have recently undertaken risk assessment training provided by an external trainer from Gravitas.

The training covered: 1 Risk assessment policies and procedures 2 Legal requirements 3 What is a risk assessment and its benefits?

4 Five steps to risk assessment 5 Identifying measures to help reduce risk

A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards and evaluating any associated risks within a workplace, then implementing reasonable control measures to remove or reduce them.

Pictured left to right: Paul Bower (Trainer, Gravitas) with Frank Rodriguez – Quarry Manager, Anthony Booth – Concrete Plant Manager, Olly Thompson – Quarry Manager, Mick Chivers – Quarry Manager, Tony Stepp – Foreman and Jim Reed – Concrete Plant Manager.

Pictured left to right: Paul Bower (Trainer, Gravitas) with Ben Hinton - Foreman, Cameron Purcell – Graduate Trainee Manager, Kevin Hester - Foreman, Daniel Houghton – Quarry Manager and Andrew Dyer – Rail Depot Manager.

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Stress management Stress is our reaction to the first sign of pressure and it is important to recognise when we are stressed so we can take steps to reduce it.

Here are some suggestions to help reduce stress...

Connect with people A good support network can help you to see things differently.

Work smarter, not harder Prioritise your work by first concentrating on the tasks that will make a difference.

Challenge yourself Learning a new language or sport can build confidence and reduce stress.

Try to be positive Try writing down three things that went well, or for which you are grateful, at the end of each day

Have some ‘me time’ Try to spend more time doing the things you really enjoy.

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Exercise and diet can help reduce stress Whatever your age, there's strong scientific evidence that being physically active can help you lead a healthier and happier life.

• People who exercise regularly also have a lower risk of developing many long-term health conditions.

• For any type of activity to benefit your health, you need to be moving quick enough to raise your heart rate, breathe faster and feel warmer.

Avoid unhealthy habits Do not rely on alcohol, smoking and caffeine as your ways of coping. It might provide temporary relief, but it won't make the problems disappear.

Why not try…

• brisk walking, cycling, spinning, dancing, sports, gardening, hiking, running, swimming, skipping, gymnastics, martial arts, weight lifting, interval and circuit training, yoga, pilates…

• Or NHS Couch to 5K – a running plan for absolute beginners to work towards running 5km in just nine weeks.

Download the free app to start.

Adults should try to be active every day and aim to do at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week, through a variety of activities.

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FREE employee assistance All Hills employees have access to one of two employee assistance programmes, Simplyhealth or Health Assured, which offer a wide range of confidential services for health and wellbeing, such as FREE counselling and advice. Both services provide 24/7 telephone assistance.

Simplyheath www.simplyhealth.co.uk 0800 9753 347

HealthAssured (for Wiltshire Council and FCC transferred employees only) www.healthassured.org 08000 305182

Both schemes offer: Financial and legal advice:

Medical information:

• Moving house • Neighbour disputes • Tenancy concerns • Debt advice

• Talk to qualified nurses for advice on health issues • Addiction issues • Medical advice for travel

Relationship advice:

Counselling & Support

• Childcare • Eldercare • Separation • Bereavement support

• Face to face counselling • 24/7 telephone counselling • Cognitive behavioural therapy and self help modules

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Complete the wordsearch Win one of three £30 Tesco vouchers Find ten words and phrases which are included in this issue of Safer For All. All correct answers go in to a blind draw to win one of three £30 Tesco vouchers so don’t delay.

Add your name and site location, then either: •

cut off this back page and hand it to your line manager;

•

send it via the internal post to the Communications department at County Park, Swindon

•

or take a photo on your mobile and email to info@hills-group.co.uk.

Your entry must be received by 31 August. Good luck!

1

DEFIBRILLATOR

2

NEAR MISS

3

SAFER FOR ALL

4

DON’T WALK BY

5

THUMBS UP

6

HEALTH

7

SAFETY

8

ACCIDENT

9

RISK

F O O X R W N E R E T E W M

10 WORKPLACE

Name: 20

Location:

S E R O E I E L L N H P O D

A R A Y E L A N H L U M R E

F R S E D D R S B M M N K F

E S C R K V M R A R B C P I

R E T N E D I C C A S E L B

F H I T R R S V R A U F A R

O I E L L D S A A A P R C I

R T S A A F O A I D I R E L

A H E I L T A L R R I H S L

L Y R E E T E O E S D D R A

L T C A I R H A K A D F R T

C D O N T W A L K B Y O K O

E Y T E F A S D A R I R R R