This week saw the Readymix North West business hold a safety standdown day for one of our mechanical engineering contractors, Volly Engineering Ltd. The day was led by Al Reaney (Cemex UK Engineering Project Manager) and Paul Cheeseman (Cemex Operations Manager) and was delivered at Volly Engineering workshop in Blackburn.

The day was organised as part of an action plan to improve contractor standards following a safety breach at Widnes plant by an employee of Volly Engineering.

Following the breach in standards, a review meeting was held with the contractor locally, with this week’s safety standdown encompassing part of the action plan to ensure continuity in our working relationship with them, as a principal contractor to Cemex.

Wojciech Tomasz, Managing Director of Volly Engineering, was fully engaged in improving the standards of his employees, standing his business down for the day to ensure his entire workforce could attend. The day’s topics included:

• LOTOTO (including the current 8 Steps Isolation Campaign)
• Working at height
• Lifting operations
• Cemex standards on guards, walkways, stairs and handrails

Time was also taken to allow for general discussion over our recent Safety Alerts, PPE requirements, and equipment inspections. Also, some previous engineering project reviews took place to identify continuous improvements opportunities for all parties.