Health and Safety

Health and safety is a key issue for the Group. We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our employees, customers and visitors to our sites. Our in-house health and safety department is led by the Central Services Director, who is a member of the Executive Committee. The Group Chief Executive is the Board member responsible for health and safety matters including keeping the Board informed at each meeting.

The department has four full time members of staff, who provide advice and support to operational management and staff at all levels and who monitor the implementation of the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.

The policy document and branch manual has recently been reviewed and rolled out to all branches to ensure that it accurately reflects our business.

• Maintained an ongoing training programme for all levels of employees in line with health and safety policy requirements
• Trained 1,310 employees in health and safety and 619 in manual handling
• Across all employees provided 471 training days during the year
• Continued to undertake regular and extensive health and safety audits of our management systems and inspections of our branch, warehouse and office based activities
• Reviewed all audit, inspection and accident report findings and produced action plans to ensure continual improvement in our management of health and safety
• Investigated all reportable (RIDDOR) accidents notified to us and implemented changes to procedures where appropriate
• Responded positively to any findings/observations by the HSE following inspections
• Continually assessed, maintained, monitored and improved safety performance
• Rolled out driver training initiative. The initiative resulted in a 30% vehicle accident rate reduction in the pilot area
• Assessed commercial drivers and retrained as required. This process is ongoing.

There have been no HSE prosecutions or enforcement actions in 2008.