Across our UK Plants many health, safety and wellbeing events took place for World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

Many sites ran awareness sessions about how to use automated external defibrillators or AEDs. This is a device which when used gives a high energy electric shock to the heart of an individual who is in cardiac arrest. This action is called defibrillation, and it plays an essential role in trying to save the life of someone who is having a heart attack. A defibrillator available within eight minutes, can increase the chance of a person’s survival by up to 70%.

At the National Technical Centre, thanks to their first aider, Michael Jaye, the team held an awareness session on the use of AEDs, with an engaging demonstration on how to use an AED and how to perform CPR. Colleagues in our Marine business, both in the office and on our Sand Falcon and Cemex Go Innovation dredger ships, also took part in AED awareness sessions with demonstrations on a dummy body.

The Yorkshire Readymix team engaged in safety discussions and conducted a comprehensive walk around of each site. Their stand-down which included plant personnel, sales teams, drivers, and technical staff, colleagues undertook a detailed tour of the site followed by an in-depth safety briefing focusing on potential hazards and best practices. They also shared awareness of their new defibrillators recently purchased for every Plant across Yorkshire, taking time to chat with staff and drivers about knowing where they are located, what to do in an emergency, how to use them, plus the importance of regular checks to make sure they’re working and in date. The morning proved to be extremely beneficial, not just in emphasising the significance of safety but also in reinforcing the collective responsibility we all share to actively ensure that safety remains our passion at Cemex.

At our Head Office in Binley, Coventry, the Health & Safety Committee organised for Darrell Collins and James Ward from our Rugby Cement Plant Logistics team to bring a Class 1 Cement tanker to the office. To around 80 colleagues across five sessions, Darrell and James shared the truck’s amazing range of safety features aimed at keeping vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists safe. Colleagues also had the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat to the driver blind spots for themselves – everyone was shocked by how far in front (seven children deep) the driver cannot see! A big thanks to Darrell and James for their support and answering all the many questions they were asked.

Thanks to everyone for looking after themselves and each other.