INDUSTRY UPDATE WORKTOP FABRICATORS FEDERATION
Worktop Fabricators spread safety best practice to most vulnerable workers
ith all the headlines and international interest in the risks around respirable dust in worktop manufacture, it’s easy to overlook the practical basics: stone worktops only represent a health hazard when they are cut in the factory. So Britain’s stone worktop specialists are spreading the word to as many workers as possible with simple guidance to equip them with the knowledge they need to keep safe. The Worktop Fabricators Federation, which represents Britain’s most conscientious worktop manufacturers, has been working with the British Occupational Hygiene Society charity and mobile training specialists Sixty Learn and Safety Remotely to create a series of social media-style videos delivered directly to frontline workers’ phones.
W This unique approach removes barriers to engagement and ensures
critical health and safety messages are easily accessible to those who need them most. The approach delivers an easily-accessible message the people on the fabricating front-line can download on their own mobile phones and test their understanding of the risks.
Combining lively video clips with graphic images and comprehension tests, the app gives workers all the fundamentals of workplace risk, crammed into less than 10 minutes of compelling, easy-to-absorb content. And prompts them to raise issues with their employer if something they see on the phone doesn’t square with what they are being asked to do in the factory.
“Health & Safety practitioners, regulators and medical professionals all acknowledge that WFF members work hard to keep their workers safe from dust-risks,” says WFF general secretary Chris Pateman. “The big recurring question has always been how to raise awareness of the risks among those other workers, whose employers may not be running compliant factories.
“Hopefully this new, interactive approach will be a useful tool in the ongoing fight to raise standards across the entire industry. Our aim is to ensure every worktop is cut in a safe environment. And to give kitchen studios and interior designers the confidence that their specification decisions will not be putting workers at risk.”
The new initiative draws on the BOHS’s extensive experience across industry in developing simple messages to drive behavioural change. It is also being adapted so workers whose mother tongue is not English can scan a QR code to access the same information in different languages.
07591 339144
www.worktopfabricators.org 40 BKU FEBRUARY 2025
Francesca Vianello joins SANIPEX GROUP as Showroom Design and Specification Assistant
ANIPEX GROUP is delighted to announce the appointment of Francesca Vianello as Showroom Design and Specification Assistant at its BAGNODESIGN A&D Gallery in Clerkenwell, London’s design capital. With over 20 years of experience in the interiors industry, including expertise in lighting, mosaics, tiles, furniture, and, crucially, bathrooms, Francesca brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her new role. Francesca’s appointment strengthens the team at the Clerkenwell showroom, which is at the heart of London’s thriving architectural and design community. Spanning two floors over a total of 200 square metres, the BAGNODESIGN A&D Gallery is an inspirational space, showcasing a curated selection of premium products, from innovative bathroom solutions to sophisticated outdoor furniture and lighting collections. The showroom provides architects, designers and other professional specifiers with a unique toolkit from which they can gather inspiration and ideas for their next projects.
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Commenting on her new role, Francesca said: “I am genuinely excited to explore the amazing potential of the SANIPEX brands, and to inspire the A&D community with our vast choice of products - not only for bathrooms! Our lighting and outdoor furniture are also superb.” Lee Palmer, BAGNODESIGN’s Sales Director UK & Ireland, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Francesca to the team. Her energy and expertise will be invaluable as we look to further develop BAGNODESIGN’s position in the specification market.” As SANIPEX GROUP continues to push the boundaries of design excellence, Francesca’s expertise and enthusiasm will help position the brand as a leading destination for architects and designers seeking high-quality, versatile solutions for both residential and commercial projects. For more information about Sanipex Group UK, please visit the website.
www.sanipexgroup.com/uk
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