Launch of Strategic Safety Forum at Hillhead 2024

A major strategic initiative to improve health and safety in the mineral products industry recognises the critical importance of sharing information and collaboration.

BAA, IQ, MPA, MPQC and QNJAC have come together as the ‘Strategic Safety Forum (SSF) for Health and Safety in the Mineral Products Sector’ to facilitate and encourage collaboration and co-ordination between key sector organisations for the good of the industry and deliver on a common purpose.

At the official public launch at Hillhead 2024, it was stated that this collaborative forum, spanning the ‘aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, precast and masonry, dimension stone, lime, mortar and industrial sand industries’ across the whole of the United Kingdom, will help to ensure that the sector achieves the highest possible standards of performance in health and safety as part of its collective and individual, legal and moral responsibility, so that everyone who engages with the sector is kept safe and well.

The SSF will seek to develop consensus across the sector to encourage alignment of the members’ initiatives and will facilitate collaboration and sharing. Particular emphasis will be placed on eliminating harm arising from the six key areas identified as being responsible for the majority of fatalities and serious injuries:

• Contact with moving machinery and isolation

• Workplace transport and pedestrian interface

• Work at height

• Workplace exposure to respirable crystalline silica

• Struck by moving or falling object

• Road traffic accidents

To achieve its objectives, the SSF will co-ordinate its efforts on:

• Key health and safety Issues

• Standards, skills, education, and resources

• Consolidated data and the interpretation of data to inform action

• Consistent and aligned communication

• Engagement with contractors

• Such other priorities as the Forum members shall from time to time agree.

Martin Riley, chair of the SSF said: ‘I am delighted to see the collaborative work initiated by the previous Strategic Forum being taken forward with the support of the five key member bodies here. We all have a duty to ensure that our sector is safe, and that the wellbeing of our employees is delivered on a day-to-day basis.’