Page 11 - LMD Vacuum Excavation - Annual Review 2021/22

Firstly, it is important to remember the areas in which LMD Vacuum Excavation’s teams work. Locations can include nuclear power stations, electricity substations, railways, silos, sewage treatment works, dockyards, highways, housing developments and more. The work may be at height, such as removing aggregate from a flat roof, or at night, such as upgrading the UK’s smart motorways. In other words, there is a prima facie requirement for robust and comprehensive safety systems to be in place.
Training
For me, safety starts with training; both in the classroom
and on the tools. At LMD we run a three-month induction programme. The programme ends with an external assessment to achieve CPCS accreditation. Nobody is allowed to work on their own until they have CPCS accreditation.
We also run additional training programmes, including external training, for those working on, for example, the railways or petrol forecourts. This training leads to the SPA (Safety Pass Alliance) Passport for working in areas with a Zone 0 vapours classification. This means a hazardous area in which a flammable atmosphere is continually present.
Regular training to upskill existing LMD team members is reinforced with monthly toolbox talks. A lot of the focus is on reporting and investigating near misses and changing work procedures in line with the findings.
Health and Wellbeing
Both Sam Dockwray (Operations Supervisor) and myself are Mental Health First Aid trained. I found the training fascinating and illuminating. It certainly doesn’t qualify you to become a counsellor or a psychologist, but it does help you with early identification of potential mental wellbeing issues such as anxiety. It provides you with the skills to empathise, allowing people to sit down and unload, and to give colleagues the help and guidance they need to find further assistance.
The fundamental benefit of Mental Health First Aid training is that it switches support from a passive ‘after the event’ to a proactive ‘nip it in the bud’ approach. This is so much more beneficial for the individual concerned and, in turn, for the company.
I am well aware, however, that this is not a silver bullet in its own right. It is just one part of an ongoing awareness and acceptance of mental health issues across society in general.
In a more direct physical health intervention, all LMD operatives working on site undergo annual safety-critical medicals delivered through a third-party provider.
PPE
LMD operates a PPE laundry system for team members. Each operative is allocated three sets of LMD-branded flame- retardant, anti-static work overalls: one being used, one in laundry and one spare.
Each week, dirty overalls are collected and cleaned by Sheffield-based Abbey Glen.
Clean PPE reinforces pride in a job well done. LMD also wants to be seen as a cut above the competition and clean PPE is just one action to help us achieve this. I have found that clients really appreciate the approach as well; it reflects well on them.
Systems and Procedures: ISO 45001
One of my key health and safety objectives for 2022 is
to achieve ISO 45001 accreditation which has recently replaced BS OHSAS 1800; LMD already holds ISO 9001:2015 accreditation.
LMD is already audited for several third-party safe working accreditations including Constructionline Gold, SMAS Worksafe and Achilles UVDB for which we received 100% in our last audit in November 2021.
ISO 45001 is important in that it shows our commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety matters, and
in its international profile. As LMD extends its activities in international markets it is important that our health and safety systems and procedures are recognised as ‘best in class’.
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