Topic 3 - Safer handling of materials - Highly Commended
Periodically (5-7yrs) there is a requirement to exchange the boards that are used during the manufacturing process to transfer the block through the concrete block plant at MLP Ramsbottom.
This is not a unique activity, each of our concrete block plants throughout our Group share the same challenge.
Historically, this activity was very labour intensive and required the individuals carrying out the task to invoke repetitive manual handling processes, with the potential to be struck by a moving or falling object, which we identify as No 5 of the MPA Fatal Six (struck by moving or falling objects).
The boards being handled are approximately 30kg in weight and 900mm x 600mm in size. 300 of these boards require exchanging for new ones each period.
Contact with moving objects/falling objects currently represents 22% of workplace injuries at Marshalls. This activity is carried out infrequently but carries out a high potential severity of injury.
Please see additional pdf below to see what Marshalls did and the benefits