Excellence in Galvanizing
Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd has been officially recognised as meeting the requirements to earn ‘COVID-secure’ status when operating during the pandemic.
The official accolade means that steps taken by the firm to mitigate all potential health and safety risks related to the spread of coronavirus have been independently assessed and verified.
The company, which has kept its plants open to fulfil urgent and emergency work associated with supporting the fight against coronavirus, rapidly implemented safety measures to keep its staff and customers safe during the crisis.
Adam Gibson, Group HR and Health & Safety Manager at Wedge Group Galvanizing, said: “A huge effort has gone into ensuring all the risks associated with COVID 19 have been tackled head on in order to protect our workforce as they continued to provide the highest quality service to our customers.”
In recent months, Wedge Group plants across the UK have galvanized steel used in the NHS Nightingale temporary hospitals and outdoor COVID-19 hospital testing structures, and delivered on projects critical to the national infrastructure and the battle against the virus.
The validation process compared the company’s COVID-19 risk assessment with existing legislation, protocols and sector specific UK government guidance on ‘Working Safely during COVID-19’.
The independent verification was carried out by global risk management company Arthur J Gallagher, and reviewed safety measures in a number of areas.
The company was assessed on its consideration of who should go to work and how it protected people at higher risk and those who need to self-isolate. Its implementation of measures around social distancing including moving around buildings and work sites was also considered, as was managing customers, visitors and contractors.
The handling of goods and cleaning regime also went under the spotlight including handwashing and sanitation facilities, as well as the availability and use of personal protection equipment and face coverings.
Assessors determined that as a company, Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd were among only 15 per cent of companies who passed the COVID secure validation process without a need for further actions to ensure compliance.
Mr Gibson added: “The rapid implementation and adoption of these measures by each of our plants is a credit to every one of our workforce and our approach has been formally recognised as a success.
“We voluntarily underwent this external validation and it is a tremendous accolade to each of our employees’ efforts.”