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NEWS COMMENT
rom transport and logistics to construction and food processing, hydraulic-powered machinery often acts as the backbone to getting jobs done efficiently and repeatedly. In 2022/23, the HSE reported that 561,000 people sustained an injury in the workplace. Given the complexity involving this type of machinery, for those who work with hydraulics, prioritising the safety of not just the system’s operations, but the well-being and safety of those involved is of the utmost importance. On page 18 of this issue,
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the experts at Pirtek give their top tips that will help ensure the health and safety of those who work with hydraulics. If you have a comment, opinon or story that you’d like to share, please contact me by emailing
vwhite@datateam.co.uk. And if you would like to share your product news or case studies, please contact Dalvin,
dofosu@datateam.co.uk.
Victoria White - Editor
HALF OF MANUFACTURING WORKERS ARE CUTTING CORNERS AND RISKING THEIR SAFETY AT WORK
rontline manufacturing workers in the UK say they are having to cut corners and risk their safety to meet the demands of the job, prompting calls for employers to provide extra support. According to new research, nearly two- thirds of workers in the manufacturing sector have admitted to cutting corners on the factory shop floor or elsewhere in a facility. More than half of those surveyed also said they had risked their own health and safety at work, with one in five having done so ‘several times’. Workers said they cut corners because they were under pressure to meet quotas, were understaffed, and poorly equipped.
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The research further reveals a gap in trust, as one in five say they reported a near miss to their employer, but it was not taken seriously. Another 12 per cent who saw a near miss did not report it as they thought their employer would not take it seriously. The survey was conducted by SafetyCulture, a global technology company whose workplace operations platform is used by more than 18,000 UK businesses. Alex Brooks-Sykes, SafetyCulture’s lead for UK & Ireland, said: “We know that manufacturers operate in a high-pressure environment, needing to maintain high throughput while ensuring precision and quality. It seems that in workers’ efforts to put in a good shift and meet the demands of the job, they are putting themselves at risk.” On top of pressures in the workplace, manufacturing staff reported feeling stretched and stressed by external disruption. Four of the top five disruptions to the UK’s manufacturing workforce in the past 12 months are weather-related, with
hot temperatures, icy weather, floods, and poor air quality all preventing staff from doing their jobs, alongside road disruption. These external factors impact productivity. Nearly half (40 per cent) of workers said they arrived late, and nearly a fifth (17 per cent) were unable to leave home at some point last year due to disruptions, meaning they could not do their job at all. Another concern for manufacturing businesses is that nearly a third of workers reported feeling physically or mentally unwell as a result of disruption. SafetyCulture suggests employers can do more to support manufacturing workers dealing with disruptions. Brooks-Sykes added: “Staff absences force manufacturers to continually juggle resources and are another drain on the sector’s productivity. “With risk and disruption, communication
is key. Management should maintain an open dialogue with staff on the shop floor and take reports seriously, especially as the technology exists to react in real-time and minimise disruption.”
SafetyCulture
safetyculture.com
Erika Curnow, an apprentice interim manager at Hydro Aluminium UK, was also announced as the winner of RoSPA’s Inspiring Women in Safety Award, for her own personal inspirational impact within health and safety at the organisation. Ian Bould from Hydro Aluminium UK,
said: “We’re thrilled to win RoSPA’s Best New Entry Award (UK) and a Gold Achievement Award during our first year in the scheme. Safety is paramount at Hydro Aluminium UK, and this award reflects our team’s dedication and determination to make health and safety an absolute priority.” Matt Cryer, Head of the RoSPA Awards added:
“As a newcomer to the RoSPA Awards, Hydro Aluminium UK has made a remarkable impression with their approach and commitment to health and safety. Their comprehensive approach to workplace safety sets a high standard for other organisations to follow. “Hydro Aluminium UK’s recognition with the Best New Entry Award (UK) highlights their proactive efforts in promoting a safe working environment for their employees, aligning with RoSPA’s mission to prevent accidents and save lives.”
RoSPA
www.rospa.com
INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE | SUMMER 2024 5
HYDRO UK SCOOPS BEST NEW ENTRY AT ROSPA AWARDS
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ydro Aluminium UK, a subsidiary of the global aluminium and renewable energy company Norsk Hydro, has demonstrated its commitment to elevating health and safety standards by entering the UK’s leading health and safety awards scheme and scooping two accolades from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Hydro Aluminium UK was awarded both a Gold Achievement Award and a Best New Entry Award (UK) at this year’s RoSPA Awards for its strong commitment to health and safety. It was awarded the accolade after it took a thorough approach to clearly explaining and demonstrating its health and safety management system in action during the past year. The organisation also ran a series of initiatives such as a family fun day, safety stand down days and extracurricular first aid training, and installed a series of defibrillators for general public use.
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