Wedge Group Galvanizing has asked Oxfordshire-based health and safety specialists, Pristine Condition, to make the comprehensive manual handling programme available to the 13 remaining sites following the trial at its Heywood-based site, Manchester Galvanizing.
Andrew Connolly, Group Health and Safety Advisor at Wedge Group Galvanizing, explained: “In an industry where manual handling forms a large part of our day-to-day operations, it’s really important for us to not only comply with best practice, but to make sure that our employees are well-versed in the very latest techniques. And following the success and positive feedback at our plant in Heywood, we’ve now made it available to all of our other plants across the Wedge Group.”
“This investment by the group means that every member of staff will be provided with an opportunity to learn additional skills and put them into practice, benefitting not only each individual and our customers, but the company longer-term too,” he concluded.
According to research by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), handling incidents accounted for more than one in five of all workplace injuries in the year 2012-2013– encompassing lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads – and over 90% of the 17,470 handling injuries lasted longer than seven days.
Philip Bladon, Commercial Director at Pristine Condition, said: “Using Olympic weightlifting techniques for manual handling, our clients have seen significant benefits, with recent analysis showing that companies we’ve worked with have achieved 100% reduction in the number of recorded manual handling incidents, accidents and claims. We’re looking forward to working with Wedge in the months and years ahead.”
By Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd