| Safe conditions programme – eliminating new cases of occupational health problems |
Tarmac succeeded in achieving some ambitious targets to eliminate new cases (or progression of existing cases) of Noise Induced Hearing Loss, Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, Dermatitis and Occupational Lung Disease related to exposure agents or substances at work by the end of 2005.
There was a phased programme for implementation of the strategy:
1. Create a baseline of occupational hygiene data by 31st March 2005
2. Create a baseline of occupational health data by 30th June 2005
3. Complete occupational health risk assessments for all operational personnel by
30th June 2005. Employees were classified as high (or potentially high), medium or low risk in relation to each category of occupational ill health
4. Prepare action plans to eliminate, control or minimise occupational health risks by
31st December 2005 with PPE as a last resort. The aim was to place all personnel in the low risk category for each occupational health factor.
Tarmac then set about increasing its existing monitoring of employees by identifying their risks in order to try and cut them. Each risk assessment carried with it a ‘traffic light’ system with red being a high risk, amber a medium risk and green a low risk. Having established how at risk an employee was, the target was then to make sure that everyone was in a green, low risk category.
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