HSE International Issue 96 by HSE International Magazine

Health, Safety & Environment Worldwide

ISSUE 96 APRIL/MAY 2015

PARKER MERCHANTING ALSO INCLUDING

Delivering the Difference to our customers, clients and employees by putting safety at the heart of everything we do n Safety is key to our commitment to

the wellbeing of the Armed Forces community and to everyone in Sodexo n Our values of team spirit, service spirit

and spirit of progress are the foundation of our health and safety culture n We work hand in hand with our clients

and supply partners to ensure that safety is a key element of our commitment to service excellence n Our health and safety events, training

days and competitions raise awareness of safety and environmental issues

DEFENCE

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Contents: April/May 2015

News:

Working at Height:

North West Access & Sales Ltd

BSIF: British Safety Industry Federation

Safety Products:

Magnum® Essential Equipment™

Parker Merchanting

Redbacks® Cushioning Ltd

Ergodyne® Tenacious Workgear®

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Foreword: April/May 2015 This month in HSE International:

e present to you a ‘Safety Products’ special issue of HSE International Magazine, highlighting some of the leading companies and technology in the world today. In our cover story, we speak to Dominic Proctor and Peter Swain of Parker Merchanting, leading UK distributors of construction consumables, with a product range covering the three key areas of Personal Protective Equipment, Roadworks and Site Supplies. Parker Merchanting recently won the prestigious BSIF (British Safety Industry Federation) ‘Safety Excellence’ award at the UK’s leading health and safety exhibition, Safety & Health Expo, in 2014. With over 100 years’ experience in providing on-site solutions to the construction industry, Parker Merchanting have secured an unrivalled reputation across the UK and are well placed to deliver the right product to the right place at the right time. BSIF is the UK’s leading trade body within the safety industry. They have over 160 members including manufacturers, distributors, test houses, certification bodies, safety professionals and service providers. We present an overview of their organisation in the run-up to the BSIF Safety Awards 2015. We speak to Cliff Lockyer at Redbacks® Cushioning Ltd to discuss their ground-breaking

technology which will revolutionise cushioning, promoting comfortable, safe and hygienic protection of the human anatomy in seating, footwear and knee protection. Also in our ‘Safety Products’ coverage, Magnum® are leading providers of high performance & quality boots. They supply Combat, Military, Safety & Desert Boots to an international customer base. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ergodyne® have spent 32 years developing hardworking safety gear and clothing for the Construction, Mining, Manufacturing and Oil & Gas industries. We speak to Thomas Votel, President & CEO to hear the inside story behind the products that Make The Workplace A Betterplace™. In our ‘Working at Height’ section, we speak to Ian Worsley, Director of North West Access & Sales Ltd, a specialist business providing access equipment and support to the Mechanical, Electrical, Construction and Engineering market sectors across the North West of England. In addition, we round up this special issue with the latest news and hot topics to keep you informed and up to date in the ever changing world of Health, Safety and Environment across the globe. Jonathan Seale Magazine Manager

Magazine Manager: Jonathan Seale

Editor: Katrina Kendrick

Production Manager: Rosalie Clarke

Magazine Design: Steve Newman

Senior Projects Manager: Roger Harker

Projects Manager: Mike Williams

Contributors: (BSIF) Darryl Brunt Steve Wilson For more information, please contact a member of our team at: info@hseinternational.co.uk https://twitter.com/hse_int HSE International Magazine is published by: Olympus Publishing Limited Prospect Business Centre Prospect House Prospect St Huddersfield HD1 2NU

All material is the copyright of Olympus Publishing Limited. HSE International Magazine is the property of Olympus Publishing Limited. The publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or part without the written permission of a director of Olympus Publishing Limited. Liability: While every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information herein, or any consequence arising from it. In the case of company product reviews or comments, these have been based upon the true and honest opinion of the editor at the time of going to press.

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NEWS

‘Make do and mend’ culture is “compromising workstation safety” says research By Darryl Brunt

More than three quarters of UK employers (80 per cent) are guilty of letting homemade workstation solutions jeopardise the safety and comfort of employees, according to a new European survey.

he survey, commissioned by Fellowes found that despite over half of companies (62 per cent) acknowledging that as employers they have a duty to influence the physical and mental health of their staff, the research has revealed that trained staff are less likely to undertake workstation assessments than non-trained staff, with 31 per cent of employees left in charge of conducting their own selfassessments as opposed to trained health and safety officers or HR managers. Additionally, despite half of all companies acknowledging that it is the responsibility of line managers to provide a fit for purpose workstation environment, it is clear from the research that work demands, physical health and the working environment are not being correctly addressed, as 22 per cent of employees raised concerns that they experience physical discomfort at their desk on a daily basis. The research throws into question how equipped, skilled or trained those responsible for completing workstation assessments are in UK workplaces and how much damage is this ‘make do and mend’ culture having on the health and wellbeing of the workforce. In over a quarter of organisations (27 per cent), staff raised concerns that their monitor or display screens were not appropriate for their needs and more than one fifth (21 per cent) of office based staff weren’t aware of any legal requirements when assessing a display screen. The topic of employee wellbeing has grown in popularity over the past few years, especially with the recovery of the job market and the need to attract and retain the right caliber of employee. However, it is still evident that some businesses are overlooking the importance of their staff’s health and wellbeing needs. Creating a safe environment so an employee feels both at ease and comfortable will only improve productivity and benefit organisations in the long term. It appears that the health and wellbeing needs of new members of

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staff are being prioritised over and above longer-serving members, with workstation assessments only being prompted by the arrival of a new member of staff in 22 per cent of organisations. For those longer serving members of staff, the research revealed workstation assessments were only conducted on request in one third of companies and even then a workstation assessment would only trigger change in one in five organisations. This latest research further supports the fact that getting the nation working well is so important for staff morale and maximising productivity in the workplace. And while 66 per cent of employers admit that these factors do affect ergonomic purchasing decisions, only 21 per cent of companies have purchased ergonomic products to resolve these issues within the past six months, fuelling this rising ‘make do and mend’ office culture. However, of those companies who have invested in ergonomic products, 66 per cent have reported seeing enhancements in the performance of their staff. Commenting on the research results and the importance of good health and wellbeing in the workplace, Professor Peter Buckle, from the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art and Former President of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, said: “Modern offices are highly complex systems. Understanding the health and wellbeing of staff in the modern workplace is an on-going struggle for many organisations. “Clearly the application of the discipline of ergonomics is an important part of ensuring that systems are performing at their peak whilst maintaining a workforce that is both healthy and satisfied at work. “The appropriate selection and use of ergonomic equipment can help deliver performance enhancements but the way that work is structured and organised is also extremely important. The role of ergonomic and human factor specialists in helping to deliver this should be considered by all good organisations.” A wellbeing at work guide, produced by Fellowes in partnership with Sereniti is available to download at: www.ergo.fellowes.com Darryl Brunt joined Fellowes in 2011 as UK Sales and Marketing Director, and is responsible for the overall management of the UK and Ireland operation including, sales, customer service and marketing. Darryl previously worked for leading global brands including Nestle and Coca Cola. `

Original Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/ make-do-and-mend-culture-is-compromising-workstationsafety-says-research/

FRANCE DECLARES ALL NEW ROOFTOPS MUST BE TOPPED WITH PLANTS OR SOLAR PANELS A new law passed in March mandates that all new buildings that are built in commercial zones in France must be partially covered in either plants or solar panels.

reen roofs, as they are called, have an isolating effect which helps to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat a building during the winter or cool it in the summer. They are capable of retaining rainwater and reducing problems with runoff, and also offer birds a place to call home in the urban jungle. French environmental activists originally wanted to pass a law that would make the green roofs cover the entire surface of all new roofs. However, partially covered roofs make for a great start, and are still a huge step in the right direction. Some say the law that was passed is actually better, as it gives the business owners a chance to install solar panels to help provide the buildings with renewable energy, thereby leaving even less of a footprint. Green roofs are already very popular in Germany and Australia, as well as Canada’s city of Toronto. This by-law was adopted in 2009 by the city of Toronto which mandated green roofs on all new industrial and residential buildings.

Original Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/france-declaresall-new-rooftops-must-be-topped-with-plants-or-solar-panels/

Benefits of green roofs There are so many benefits to green roofs. Here are just a few: • Adding natural beauty and major aesthetic improvement to buildings, which in turn increases the investment opportunity. • Helping contribute to landfill diversion by prolonging the life of waterproofing membranes, using recycled materials, and prolonging the service of heating, ventilation, and HVAC systems through decreased use. • Green roofs assist with storm water management because water is stored by the substrate, then taken up by plants, and thus returned to the atmosphere through transpiration and evaporation. They also retain rainwater and moderate the temperature of the water and act as natural filters for the water that does run off. They delay the time at which runoff occurs, which results in decreased stress on sewer systems during peak periods. • The plants on green roofs do a great job of capturing airborne pollutants and other atmospheric deposition. They can also filter noxious gasses. • They open up new areas for community gardens, commercial and recreational space in busy cities where this space is generally quite limited. `

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NEWS

BREAKTHROUGH IN HYDROGEN-POWERED CARS MAY SPELL END FOR PETROL STATIONS

Scientists have dramatically increased the efficiency of producing clean hydrogen fuel from plant waste in a breakthrough that could one day lead to petrol stations being replaced by a network of roadside “bioreactors” for refuelling cars.

study funded by Shell Oil has shown that it is possible to convert all 100 per cent of the sugar stored in corn stover – the stalks, cobs and husks leftover in a harvested maize field – into hydrogen gas with no overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. The researchers perfected the process by mixing the raw biomass with a watery solution containing a cocktail of ten enzymes that turned the plant sugars xylose and glucose into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, said Professor Percival Zhang of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Previously it has only been possible to convert between 30 per cent and 60 per cent of the plant’s sugars into hydrogen using either fermenting microbes or industrial catalysts. However, the latest technique converts 100 per cent of the plant sugars into hydrogen, Professor Zhang said. Producing pure hydrogen gas from crop waste and biomass is seen as one of the most important goals of the green economy because of the need to produce clean alternatives to petrol. However, existing methods are inefficient, costly and are dogged by the problem of how to distribute the hydrogen once it is made. “All the products produced by the process are gases so they can be separated and collected easily from the biomass substrate. Over its lifecycle, the process is carbon neutral and we have achieved a 17-fold increase in the rate of the reaction which makes it economically viable,” Professor Zhang said. “This means we have demonstrated the most important step toward a hydrogen economy – producing distributed and affordable green hydrogen from local biomass resources.” One of the critical developments in the process is being able to

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directly use “dirty” biomass as the fuel rather than relying on highly processed sugars as the source of hydrogen. In addition to being more efficient, this means it should also be possible to build large bioreactors the size of petrol stations near to sources of biomass, so leading to a network of green re-fuelling stations distributed around the country, Professor Zhang explained. “The next problem is to work on how to scale it up. But if we receive further funding I think in three to five years we should be able to build a bioreactor that is something like a gas station which can produce 200 kilos of hydrogen fuel a day. This would be enough to re-fuel about 40 or 50 cars.” The key step in the study was to identify the precise combination of enzymes that would work together on the plant waste to convert all of its xylose and glucose – which together account for 90 per cent of the sugars in plant waste – into hydrogen and carbon dioxide, which can be collected separately. These 10 enzymes were initially made in microbial fermenters using genetically engineered bacteria. The separated enzymes were then added to the solution of plant waste where they continued to work for several weeks. However, the aim eventually is for these enzymes to continue working for months or years without being replaced, Professor Zhang said. ` Original Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/ breakthrough-in-hydrogen-powered-cars-may-spell-end-forpetrol-stations/

STEEL FIRM SENTENCED Yorkshire and the Humber is OVER NORTH YORKSHIRE the most dangerous region WORKER’S DEATH for workers in the UK A Sheffield steel company has been sentenced after a catalogue of safety failings led to a 42-year-old worker being killed when he was knocked off his lorry and then crushed by a threetonne load of steel tubes.

ather-of-three Robert Ismay, from Thirsk, was delivering two bundles of 7.5-metre-long tubes to Daver Steels Ltd’s premises at Petre Street when the incident happened on 6 December 2012. On 17 April, Sheffield Crown Court heard from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) what should have been a straightforward unloading operation was beset by errors and failings that left Mr Ismay fatal injuries. Mr Ismay, a visiting delivery driver, had parked his lorry on the road opposite the site. No checks were made by Daver Steels to see what was to be offloaded or how the load was positioned. A trained but inexperienced forklift truck driver was then told to lift the steel tubes, but the forks’ reach was too short so when they were raised, the bundles fell off and struck Mr Ismay. He was pushed off the trailer onto the pavement and was hit and fatally wounded by the bundles of steel tubes as they crashed down behind him. The HSE investigation found Daver Steels: • Had not assessed the risks involved with loading and unloading so had no safe system of work in place • Had not provided instructions or sufficient training to staff • Failed to provide direction to workers, leaving them to develop their own practices including choosing how they offloaded, what equipment to use and where offloading took place The court was told an inspection by Daver Steels of what was being delivered would have shown the only safe way to unload was to use a crane, which the company had, and to put the truck in the loading bay rather than leaving it on the busy road outside. Instead there was no planning of the task and no communication between the site and the delivery driver. Road users were also put at risk when the forklift blocked part of the road during the failed unloading attempt, the forks had an insufficient reach, and Mr Ismay was allowed to remain on the back of the lorry. HSE told the court that Mr Ismay’s death could have been avoided if simple planning and suitable instructions had been in place to control the risks. Daver Steels Ltd, of Petre Street, Sheffield, was fined £62,000 and ordered to pay £38,000 in costs after admitting breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. After the sentencing, HSE inspector Chris Gallagher said: “Unfortunately, this type of incident is not unique or new. What happened to Robert Ismay was a tragedy that has had devastating consequences for his wife, children and wider family. “There was a series of safety failings by Daver Steels in this case. Key was its failure to put in place adequate control measures, which includes the provision of suitable instructions to employees and visiting workers so such tasks could be completed safely. “Daver Steels should have taken responsibility for the driver’s safety and the delivery and unloading operation. Companies that receive deliveries to their premises have a duty to ensure that any unloading operation is carried out in a safe manner.” `

4.1% of workers in Yorkshire and the Humber reported work related stress or musculoskeletal disorders. In London, which has the lowest number of reported incidences for both types of work-related issues, only 2,160 incidences per 100,000 workers were reported.

ccording to health and safety expert Bryan Richards, “these figures come as a shock to many when you consider that we tend to think of London as filled with the ‘high-pressure’ jobs, and office work which commonly leads to back and neck injuries.” “In fact, because London is filled with young businesses and industries which tend to adapt quickly, workers in London are more likely to feel that they can report any mental health issues easily, and also are given more opportunities to access equipment such as standing desks, which may alleviate back problems. “Other regions, in which companies may be more long-standing, there is more difficulty adapting. Financial issues in these northern regions may also lead to more stress on managers and consequently employees.” Of occupations linked to musculoskeletal issues, those in building trades, nursing, personal care and skilled agriculture trades were more likely to suffer. Health professionals – in particular nurses – were also most likely to suffer from work related stress, depression or anxiety, along with educational and social care professionals. Large companies had a lower prevalence of musculoskeletal issues, but higher incidences of stress. According to Dr Sheri Jacobson, Clinical Director at Harley Therapy, when it comes to stress there are several reasons why London’s workers tend to suffer less. Jacobson said: “There are a wonderful set of opportunities outside work for people living in London, and a variety of social activities that can be life enhancing. There are fabulous parks that provide a range of activities, wonderful health centres and activities such as outdoor yoga. On top of this, higher pay rates in London create a high standard of living that allows people to enjoy life, eat good food and take trips.” Lastly, in 2013/14 the total number of working days lost to musculoskeletal disorders was 8.3 million, with an average of 15.9 days absence taken per incident. For stress and anxiety, the average length of absence was 23 days a year – this amounted to 11.3 million working days lost for the UK as a whole. ` Original Source: http://www. hseinternational.co.uk/ yorkshire-and-the-humber-isthe-most-dangerous-regionfor-workers-in-the-uk-with4100-incidents-per-100000workers/

Original Source: http://www.hseinternational.co.uk/steel-firmsentenced-over-north-yorkshire-workers-death/

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Access All Areas North West Access & Sales Ltd recently moved to larger premises following a hugely successful period of growth and expansion. Sales Director, Ian Worsley spoke to HSE International to discuss how the company works and what sets them apart from their competitors.

orth West Access & Sales Ltd are a specialist business providing access equipment and support to the mechanical, electrical, construction and engineering market sectors across the North West of England. Ian co-founded the company with his business partner, Mark Roberts in late 2012. Since then, it has become known as a reliable and trustworthy business to work with. The senior management team hold over 15 years’ worth of experience in delivering successful and reliable products to the aforementioned market sectors. Based in the North West, they operate as far north as Carlisle and Stoke-onTrent in the south, offering their customers a 100 mile delivery radius. The business has a strong team of dedicated staff who have an excellent capability in supporting their customer base. Ian has worked within the access market for twelve years and his knowledge of the industry is exceptional. He knows the demands and requirements of his customers and makes their safety his number one priority. During 2013, after much debate, North West Access & Sales chose to invest in Pop Up Products and Power Towers Ltd. Both manufacturers offer the very safest products, with an excellence in product quality and reliability. Pop Up Products and Power Towers Ltd are considered as key partners and are vital to the future growth of the business. The Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) industry is North West

“The business has a strong team of dedicated staff who have an excellent capability in supporting their customer base”

Access & Sales’ key target audience being the main users of their equipment. The majority of the company’s labour requirements are usually at heights of between 3.5 and 5.5 metres and the M&E sector offers the business a huge scope of work including duct Ian Worsley, Director work installations, HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and maintenance. At this point in time, Liverpool and the North West of England is a thriving place to be. North West Access and Sales are keen to grow their market share and feel they are extremely lucky to be working with some of the North West’s leading Mark Roberts, Director businesses in the M&E sector. North West Access & Sales support all those working at height but consider themselves to be a fairly niche business as they solely concentrate on low level access. “Mark (Roberts) and I sat down and decided to put our heads together. We saw a gap in the market for low level access specialists. Basically, no one was doing it. Everyone was adding it to their fleet but no one was actually concentrating on the needs of low level access. You’ve got big PLCs concentrating on the big stuff but no one actually concentrating on the low level. We saw a

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gap and realised that it was a niche market, so sat down with Pop Up Products Limited who have been fantastic to us. We did a deal to get the business off the ground and they’ve supported it 100 percent. They’d had a 10 year relationship with myself and knew I’d worked hard for it. “When North West Access & Sales was founded, the guys from Pop Up Products knew that anything involving me and low level access was going to work. We concentrated on the North West as we are a North West based company. Just up to Stoke is our furthest southern region and Carlisle is probably our furthest north, including Manchester and a little bit of Leeds. Everywhere surrounding is covered by us and we can deliver there.” Product, Place, Price, Promotion Within their first 9 months of trading, Ian and Mark realised that they had doubled their stock, quickly expanding from just over £200,000 worth of assets to half a million. Larger premises were required. Their new premises is located within Aintree Racecourse Business Park, owned by Dubai-based Orbit Developments. The site is a prominent estate housing several blue chip companies including Toolstation, Screwfix, DFS, B&Q and Wickes. “It’s a really prestigious estate to be trading on. Orbit liked the business plan. They liked our business model and they could see the business was growing. They allowed us to move in and that was 13 months ago now, in January 2014.” North West Access & Sales are moving again and this time, they are moving two doors down as the business expands even further. The current premises is just under 4,000 square feet in size and the new one measures 6,500 square feet. “When you look at the ‘4 P’s,’ Product, Place, Price and Promotion’, it is imperative to find the right location. My only advice to anyone looking to either move or start up a business is if you’ve got the right price in the wrong location, the business won’t take off. If you’ve got the right location but the wrong product, the business won’t take off. You need have all those boxes ticked. We’ve got the right product and we’ve definitely got the right location because we’ve trebled in size. When we viewed the site, there were two premises that we could have moved into; either this or one opposite. The opposite was slightly bigger but not much more expensive in rent, so you ask yourself, ‘why is this the same price?’ It is because the premises is opposite everyone else. The other premises’ are next to one another, so as customers walk out, the first thing they see is us, and that’s why we made the right choice.” On the right track North West Access & Sales is a recognised brand within the North West of England. While they do not claim to be market leaders in the North West just yet, Ian believes they are definitely on the right track. “We’re the only business we know that concentrates on the low level access. Everyone you speak to about us says we’ve got a great business and a fantastic business model. A few of the big PLCs that looked at us probably thought we weren’t going to do much. 2 years on, I’d say we were sending out a major statement about

“We’ve got the right product and we’ve definitely got the right location because we’ve trebled in size” HSE INTERNATIONAL

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PRODUCTS LIMITED

that. We’re providing a really good service. Pop Up Products supply North West Access & Sales with all their aluminium towers and low level powered access machines, accounting for 70 percent of their investment. Power Towers Ltd supply them with powered access machines, making up the remaining 30 percent. In Ian’s experience, these two product manufacturers are the best in the marketplace. “The machines all go through a standard door and there are very limited overheads to the user. They run off a 12 volt battery and there are virtually no overheads in running them. As long as the user charges the machines up every couple of days (with a 3 hour charge), 99 percent of the time those machines should not fail. In fact, I’d go so far as to say 100 percent shouldn’t fail.” Ian Worsley: Background and training Ian completed his degree in 2001, graduating with first class honours in Business Management (BSc). He also attained a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). He went on to work for the biggest PLC in access, tool and plant hire and over 10 years, perfected his trade there. Positions included: Regional Account Manager, National Account Manager and National Sales Manager. Ian then went to work for one of the company’s sister businesses in the rail sector and after 18 months, decided that he really missed working with what he was good at, which was access. His qualifications and experiences have supported Ian during his first two years of business, significantly influencing decision making in driving the company forward. Investing in the future North West Access & Sales continue to provide an excellent service. The majority of their customers have dealt with Ian for many years through his former employer and it is imperative that the business maintains these high standards of quality and service.

“The fitter we’ve employed is picture perfect with the kit he sends out. If it’s not right, he won’t send it out. He will quarantine the machine if it doesn’t look right. We deal with the likes of plasterers and painters, so all equipment gets a full wash down before it is sent out. We don’t send any kit out looking in a state that we wouldn’t like to receive it. “Everyone in this business has obtained their IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) PAL (Powered Access Licence) card and the PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association) card for all our aluminium products. You need to know your product, even if you’re a driver. I would never send anyone to site that didn’t know what the product could do; its capabilities or what it was being used for. The end user can often ask some strange questions when they get there, so every member of staff has had the necessary training on all the products that we supply.” Ian and Mark’s core focus for the year ahead is moving to Manchester. By this time next year, they should have a premises in mind and the business plan and model to ‘hit Manchester hard’. “If you look at Manchester, the world’s your oyster. You’ve got Leeds to North Yorkshire and the M6 fairly close to you. You’ve got Blackpool between Liverpool and Manchester and so much more coverage to hit. Every time you go to Manchester, there’s more building work being done. The city never stops and we want to be part of that as well.”

“Everyone in this business has obtained their IPAF PAL card and the PASMA card for all our aluminium products” HSE INTERNATIONAL

WORKING AT HEIGHT: NORTH WEST ACCESS & SALES LTD

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“We recognise that we could all reduce our carbon footprint and we do try to reduce the impact on the environment at any given opportunity” High standards of safety and environmental responsibility Unsurprisingly, Ian takes a very serious approach towards health and safety. Customer safety is the most important thing for his business and making sure everyone goes home safe and sound each night is his top priority. North West Access & Sales are keen to promote a safe working environment and they have developed a culture that shows they take workplace safety seriously. All staff undertake a health and safety induction when they first join the company and all equipment is maintained to the highest standards. Safety is number one at all times. “Working at height is very dangerous and the reason we invested in Pop Up Products and Power Towers products was the innovation and safety of the machines. In dealing with both companies for many years, neither has had a RIDDOR or fatality with any of their products. That has got to fill us and our customers with confidence.” As soon as machines come in, they are put through a strict maintenance schedule. They are quarantined, then put through a service, and all machines are given an inspection sheet. A risk assessment is then carried out to ensure that they are fit for purpose. Finally, all machines are put through a LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) test. “The LOLER certificate is so important but my lifting engineer Ian Horton has to know that if he is putting his name on something, it’s not going to fail. He is signing off that machine so every time the LOLER test is done, he has to be 110 per cent confident that everything is right with it. Each machine goes through 3 different schedules before receiving a ticket and being given the OK. With our standard of quality control, it’s put through the mill.” Over the next 12 months, North West Access & Sales is aiming to achieve the OHSAS 18001 safety standard which will reflect its Health and Safety Management Systems, alongside the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems standard. “We want to make sure that we are demonstrating health, safety and environmental best practice, indicating exactly what we intend to do. Our Mission Statement says it all: North West Access & Sales is dedicated in supplying safe and professional access solutions to anyone working at height!” “We recognise that we could all reduce our carbon footprint and we do try to reduce the impact on the environment at any given opportunity. This includes our vans, logistics and soon becoming a paperless business with PDA systems for all deliveries and collections. North West Access & Sales will continue to reduce emissions wherever possible.” The right product for the job Every time a contractor carries out work, a risk assessment must be undertaken and part of that assessment involves checking the ground. “You’ve got to look at the ground you’re working on. If someone is working at a 5 metre height, you automatically think ‘I’ll go and get a big scissor lift.’ Well, that big scissor lift weighs nearly 2 tons and you only need one man in it. Power Tower machines would be perfect for the job at only 380 kilos. The users or contractors often don’t realise this until they carry out the risk assessment.”

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WORKING AT HEIGHT: NORTH WEST ACCESS & SALES LTD

At RF Lifting & Access, we supply Genie lifting and access equipment as well as a wide range of other lifting manufacturers equipment. We provide the full package: from supply, service and repair through to training and thorough examinations. As dealers for Genie, Skyjack, JLG, Niftylift, Upright, Snorkel, Pop-up, Power Tower & Simon, we provide machines, spare parts and offer a fully comprehensive service to companies purchasing lifting equipment, access equipment and lift material handling equipment in the UK, Europe and Worldwide. If you don’t see a particular product listed, please call us as we are only too pleased to offer help and advice on a variety of products. Tel: +44 (0)151 346 1365 Email: sales@rflifting.co.uk

www.rflifting.co.uk

“Ian is keen to promote apprenticeships as an effective way to train the next generation of workers” The business’s aluminium range consists of towers, podiums, folding platforms, GRP tower, ladders, steps and stairway towers, all of which are made in Holland by Eiger. Ian and Mark undertook extensive market research on their aluminium towers and consider this type of tower to be the very best on the market. Training tomorrow’s workforce North West Access & Sales has a long term objective in attracting the most talented people to join their team. They like to consider themselves as an equal opportunities employer and are therefore committed to offering the same level of opportunity no matter the age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexual orientation of an individual. The directors make sure to keep up to date with current employment legislation and any changes that are made throughout the year are communicated to their staff. Ian is keen to promote apprenticeships as an effective way to train the next generation of workers and the company is currently looking for an apprentice fitter. “We want to give somebody the opportunity Apprenticeships are now considered as being just as important as further

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education. We’re all passionate about giving that opportunity; to bring someone in, to nurture them, to teach them a trade and hopefully, to give them a 3 year apprenticeship. They’ll then have a full time position with us.” Small enough to care – big enough to deliver “The biggest thing for us is that we are not a PLC. We’re a local business and we’re out there having a go. From our point of view, we look after SMEs (Small to Medium Sized Enterprises). PLCs are very much focussed on blue chip clients. We’re not. We’re on the same wavelength as the SMEs and we give good service to the people we deal with. If you have low level access requirements, we’re the people you should be talking to.”

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BRITISH SAFETY INDUSTRY FEDERATION (BSIF)

THE VOICE OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY INDUSTRY From the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), CEO Alan Murray spoke to HSE International about the organisation and its role in the health and safety industry in the UK.

n 1974, with the introduction of the UK Health & Safety at Work Act, the UK brought together a wide range of legislation to simplify, support and improve occupational safety and health. In the 1970s, fatalities at work were close to 700 per annum. According to the latest figures from the HSE, this number has fallen by over 80% - a tremendous ALAN MURRAY, CEO achievement reinforcing the UK’s world leading record in safety and health. Despite this dramatic improvement in fatalities there is still a great deal to do to safeguard occupational health. The total costs associated with workplace injury and ill health amounted to £14 billion in 2012/13, with 28.2 million working days lost due to work-related ill health or injury in 2013/14, clearly indicating further action is required to improve the situation and significantly reduce these numbers.

“Our aim is to support our members who maintain high standards in manufacturing and distribution and promote best practice by all in this vital industry.” 20

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Worker ill-health specifically is becoming an increased area of focus for the industry, with the realisation that occupational diseases are not simply a legacy of past practices but still cause 13,000 deaths each year. The BSIF and its members are extremely active in trying to improve not only safety statistics but also workers’ health through industry initiatives such as The Fit2Fit Scheme, ‘Clean Air? Take Care!’, both crucial respiratory programmes and ‘Listen Today Hear Tomorrow’, focusing on healthy hearing. BSIF is also an active supporter of the UK Health & Safety Week starting on the 15th June 2015. As the UK’s leading trade body for the occupational health and safety industry, the BSIF has represented the industry for over 20 years and has fought throughout this time against the negative image of the oft quoted “‘Elf and Safety” tag, when in fact we should be “Proud to be Safe”. “Good proportionate Safety and Health legislation is good for business,” said Alan Murray, CEO of the BSIF. “Our aim is to support our members who maintain high standards in manufacturing and distribution and promote best practice by all in this vital industry.” To achieve this, the BSIF represents suppliers of safety products and services across all aspects of safety and health legislation and standards making, focusing on major occupational safety issues. The Federation is at the vanguard of the message that good proportionate safety and health legislation is good for the population and good for the UK. In the past year the BSIF has become increasingly active in communicating this message to legislators in government; actions that will hopefully receive wider recognition in the future. The BSIF continues to create and champion the application of safety and health programmes such as the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme (RSSS), a scheme intended to eliminate fake PPE. Members of the initiative have made a binding declaration that

2014 AWARD WINNERS

“Like any organisation, company or individual who wants to be at the top of their game, continual improvement, application and commitment is required” their safety equipment is genuine, CE marked and complies with all relevant legislation.

he BSIF also works with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other industry stakeholders to manage schemes such as the ‘Fit2Fit’ scheme, establishing the competence of face fit testers who are then able to ensure the Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) provided to employees fits correctly. Since 2001, the BSIF has run the BSIF Safety Awards to recognise and celebrate product innovation, customer excellence and ongoing best practice in the occupational health and safety industry. The three award categories are: Service Awards: Awarding companies that offer exceptional and innovative service solutions, voted for by the entrants’ own customers. Safety Excellence: Celebrating companies making major improvements in occupational safety, based on a case study. Product Innovation: Awarding products that are new and innovative in improving occupational health & safety.

The 2014 winners were: Service Awards: Guardsmen Safety Excellence: Parker Merchanting/Carillion Product Innovation: JSP This year’s awards will be announced on 16th June at the Safety and Health Expo taking place between 16th-18th June at the Excel Centre in London. Commenting on the exhibition, Murray stated, “This exhibition is not just about selling products and services, it is also a focal point for Health and Safety Week which BSIF proudly supports, signalling our commitment to every aspect of the UK health and safety industry”.

To find out more information on the BSIF and why 2015 looks set to be the Federation’s most exciting year yet, visit www.bsif.co.uk or follow on Twitter @BSIF1.

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SAFETY PRODUCTS: MAGNUM® ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT™

Safety in Any Working Environment Since 1982, Magnum has been producing globally certified footwear and has built up a tremendous amount of experience in design that is fit for purpose within all occupations that rely on safe footwear. Magnum UK has lead within the Global Brand to supply occupational and safety footwear, worldwide, within all uniform sectors including: military, police, fire, ambulance and healthcare, as well as service related and industrial site occupations.

agnum originates from Hi-Tec Sports, founded in Shoeburyness, Essex, on request of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), at Quantico (Virginia USA), for a lightweight tactical black boot. As these special operations used a Hi-Tec sport shoe, Magnum incorporated sport shoe material into a leather boot and created the first ‘Hi-Tec Magnum’. Glen Richards, Global Brand Director: I have served for twenty years in the Safety Footwear sector, 7 of which have been at Magnum Boots. My role as Global Brand Director at Magnum is to ensure we deliver the best, innovative and durable footwear to our Global Markets. Testing, Certification, Field Testing R&D are all essential to the success of the Magnum Brand which boasts a 30 year pedigree. There is a huge global demand for our boots and my job takes me all over the world, working directly with Militaries, Emergency Services personnel and some of the world’s largest employers. Benjamin Thompson, Technical Manager: I work for Magnum Boots as the Technical Manager and my main roles include certification and testing. My interest in footwear manufacture began whilst travelling in the Far East, where I observed cordwainers making footwear. I became extremely interested in cordwaining and on my return, enrolled onto a Footwear Design and Manufacture course at De Montfort University, Leicester. Upon completing the course I worked as a cordwainer for an independent company. This experience was invaluable; I worked on all areas of shoe

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manufacture, from design, pattern cutting, clicking, stitching and lasting through to finishing etc. From there I became a Footwear Technologist for a company specialising in Technical Sailing/Lifestyle products. I worked extensively in and with factories in the Far East and Europe. A big part of that role was testing and development. I then moved to Magnum to my current role where I’m responsible for managing the testing and certification of all Magnum products to ensure all products are fit for purpose. Health & Safety is of paramount importance in any industry and Magnum make no exceptions in maintaining the highest standards. The UK brand has a Health & Safety committee in place to ensure all parts of its UK operations are regularly assessed and ‘best practices’ implemented. HS procedures consist of: • An annual company-wide Risk Assessment which reviews UK company operations, facilities and personnel to ensure all operate with minimum risk and that these risks are controlled. • Individual Risk Assessments that are carried out where a potential risk may exist for a new operation, facility or individual. • A detailed Corporate HS Policy that is in place (their full 20+ page policy is available on request). Magnum are members of ADS, BFA (British Footwear Association), the British Safety Council, BSIF (British Safety Industry Federation) and have won several awards including the coveted SATRA PPE Award for ‘Best Innovation in Safety Footwear’, in both 2012 and 2014, and the ‘Company Clothing Award’ in 2009 for ‘Footwear Innovation’. They have also achieved ISO9001 quality management systems standard and ISO14001 environmental management systems standard.

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SAFETY PRODUCTS: MAGNUM® ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT™

Quality control at Magnum is key and new potential suppliers of products to the UK are ‘pre-assessed’ for suitability and conformity to Magnum’s corporate standards. Pre-assessment includes: • Product Quality: The UK is certified to ISO9001 quality management standard. Is the supplier also ISO9001 certified or have in place similar systems to ensure their performance meets our corporate standards? • Environment: The UK is certified to ISO14001 environmental management standard. Is the supplier certified to ISO14001 or do they have in place similar systems to meet our corporate standards? • Ethical trade: All prospective suppliers are required to meet our Corporate Social Responsibility Policy on ethical and sustainable trade. • Magnum uses the services of independent third party auditors such as Bureau Veritas to inspect their supply chain factories, and interview management and staff to ensure effective standards are in place. • Hazardous substances: A detailed corporate ‘Hazardous Materials Policy’ is in place to prevent the use of hazardous materials/substances in any company products. New prospective suppliers must ensure they meet the requirements of this policy. As an experienced footwear

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supplier in a global economy, Hi-Tec Sports UK (including the Magnum Brand) recognise the importance of respecting culture and the environment around the world. Hi-Tec Sports UK believe that high business standards play a significant role in their continued success and growth, but never lose sight of the responsibility that comes with this. The aim of their policies is to ensure that the impact of their activities is positive for all internal and external stakeholders. To achieve this they share good practice with customers, suppliers and employees for both their benefit and that of the wider community and environment. “All Magnum and Hi-Tec Sports products are labelled with a message to our customers where we ask them to support Stop Rhino Poaching; a non-profit organisation that has our brand support.” www.stoprhinopoaching.com

Case Study: Hi-Tec joins forces with The National Trust Hi-Tec are extremely proud to join forces with The National Trust to launch a brand new family of walking boots inspired by nature and developed specifically with their environmental impact in mind. The Altitude Enviro WPi is the beginning of an important and significant journey for Hi-Tec – small, but greener steps in the right direction. The National Trust is a charity dedicated to preserving, protecting and supporting the buildings, countryside and coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. With over 3.7 million members and 55,000 volunteers all working to protect our heritage for future generations, the Trust is working harder than ever to care for special places, forever, for everyone. Hi-Tec’s challenge was to engineer a lightweight, waterproof walking boot that offers unbeatable performance, comfort and true value, along with greater consideration of every ingredient of the boot’s DNA and its environmental impact. Uppers constructed using water-based cements, manufactured from naturally dyed veg-tanned, reduced chrome leather uppers, recycled content metal steel shanks and a durable recycled content rubber outsole are just a few of the earth-friendly features that go to make this boot a true environmental step in the right direction. www.hi-tec.com/uk/nationaltrust In 2015, Magnum aim to maintain and grow their Global position as the No 1 Uniform Footwear Brand, extending their offering in EN20345 Certified Work boots together with a certified collection of lightweight, comfortable and Highly Slip-Resistant Healthcare and Service footwear. “We offer highly technical and innovative footwear in many sectors. Our growth areas for the brand are within the Industrial, Construction, Healthcare and Service sectors, and having supplied the Military for many years, we know how to make boots that need to perform in the toughest of environments. We have adopted this design and build philosophy into our new collections. “We are the Original, Innovative, Trusted Footwear brand worn by uniformed personnel all over the world in the harshest environments. Magnum know how to build Lightweight, Comfortable and Durable Footwear.”

OUR MISSION: TO BE THE FIRST CHOICE IN OCCUPATIONAL FOOTWEAR.

See more at: www.magnumboots.com HSE INTERNATIONAL

SAFETY PRODUCTS: PARKER MERCHANTING

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IN SAFE HANDS Parker Merchanting received a British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) Safety Excellence Award in 2014. General Manager, Dominic Proctor spoke to HSE International to discuss the company’s ongoing commitment to service, quality and safety.

arker Merchanting are a leading UK supplier of consumables to various industry sectors including: Construction, Food, Utilities, Industrial and Rail. ‘Head to toe’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) specialists with over 129 years’ experience, Parker Merchanting pride themselves on providing a first class service to their customers with a simple ethos: “the right product to the right place at the right time.” The company was formed in 1886 as Frank Parker & Co Ltd in Houndsditch, East London and started life supplying a basic range of contractors’ tools (shovels, wheelbarrows, picks and hammers) to London based builders and contractors. The business took off and in the 1930s the company launched their first range of protective clothing with the introduction of oilskins, wellington boots and donkey jackets. War forced the company to move to Curtain Road in Shoreditch when the original premises were badly damaged in a bombing raid. This was also a busy period for business, with Frank Parker trading heavily with companies engaged in bomb damage clearance and re-building work during the war and in the immediate post-war years. In 1963 the company opened their first regional depot in West Yorkshire and the business grew rapidly, with many more depot openings and acquisitions following shortly after. The company is part of the Rexel Group, a worldwide group of companies specialising in business to business distribution services. Other operating businesses owned by the Rexel Group include Newey and Eyre, Denmans Electrical Wholesalers, Wilts Wholesale Electrical and WF Senate. Parker Merchanting supply a vast range of industries within the UK with a high quality selection of products. In each of these markets customer demand for improved productivity is satisfied through innovative services, products and partnering. As a market leader in PPE, Clothing, Road Works & Equipment, Tools, Site Equipment, Janitorial and Hygiene and Workplace Health and Safety, Parker Merchanting offer a service provision that is representative of industry best practice. Their service level,

Dominic Proctor General Manager

Peter Swain Commercial & Marketing Manager

breadth of range and product availability makes them supplier of choice for a number of businesses. The strength of their business lies in sourcing the most practical and contemporary solutions for the workplace and passing them on to the customer. They support some of the largest organisations in the UK with a detailed knowledge and service offering that has been refined over many years. The company partners with product manufacturers to deliver innovation, value added services and best practice and this sits at the core of their service proposition. They recognise that every organisation is different and each has its own method of working.

“Their service level, breadth of range and product availability makes them supplier of choice for a number of businesses” HSE INTERNATIONAL

NWT FM Solutions are proud providers of tea, coffee and all other ancillary lines to Parker Merchanting.

Parkers stock a wide, customer led range including popular brands such as Nescafe Coffee, Tetley Tea, PG Tips as well as more up market products such as Gold Blend and Cappuccino lines. Parker Merchanting also have a range of Fairtrade products from Clipper Tea & Coffee to Tate Lyle Sugar etc… Waters in 24 x 50cl are available with the ever popular Harrogate brand leading the way.

NWT005 / 1030033708

NWT007 / 1030000386

NWT010 / 1030021069

NWT055 / 1030000389

NWT057 / 1030033707

NWT123 / 1030000384

NWT254 / 1030048999

Peter Churcher, Sales Manager from NWT FM Solutions commented: “Parkers really do have the complete range on offer, everything you could possibly need in the sector is provided for. Parkers are constantly reacting to their customer needs and working closely with ourselves in developing the offering.”

www.northwestteas.co.uk

Subsequently, they work diligently to continuously understand the individual needs of each business they supply. This personal approach, coupled with their wealth of industry knowledge and technical expertise, sets them apart from their competitors. When an operation depends totally on health, safety and environmental compliance, Parker Merchanting are close at hand to offer advice and practical support. Members of the external sales team, complimented by preferred key suppliers, are at customers’ disposal to offer free training and advice, enabling them to meet their key obligations. Having a strong heritage in construction and in supplying the industry for many years, Parker Merchanting have witnessed every stage of growth within the construction industry and understand the importance of ensuring the right products are in the right place at the right time. They have the capabilities and expertise to manage a broad supplier base of national and international manufacturers and integrate this within their customers’ supply chain. Parker Merchanting understand the importance of stock availability and being able to meet site needs on the spot. Stock holding and service delivery are still high on the agenda for the company with continual investment in these areas. Their network is backed up by a real-time stock system and a team of inventory planners, all of whom are experts in stock management. The planning team is essential to the company’s operations and works

“When an operation depends totally on health, safety and environmental compliance, Parker Merchanting are close at hand to offer advice and practical support” HSE INTERNATIONAL

PROUD TO BE A LEAD SUPPLIER OF SKIN CARE PRODUCTS TO PARKER MERCHANTING

- Skin care system for mobile workers -

- Heavy duty hand cleanser -

Deb has been supplying Parker Merchanting with skin care products for over 10 years. We look forward to continuing our unique working relationship for years to come. For more information visit www.parker-direct.com or www.debgroup.com

The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading away from home skin care company

“Parker Merchanting understand the importance of stock availability and being able to meet site needs on the spot” closely with their branches, branded clothing division and suppliers to guarantee customers a high quality of service. The National Service Centre, based in Rothwell, West Yorkshire was formed in 2009. It functions as a service centre for customers, giving them a dedicated central point of contact. The 20th Parker Merchanting branch in the UK opens in Aberdeen in April and the business is continuing to evolve. Alongside the new Aberdeen branch, the company opened two additional locations in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) in 2012 and are always looking for the right opportunity to expand and grow their range. Having 20 branches throughout the country allows Parker Merchanting to easily supply all parts of the UK, from as far north as Aberdeen, to Exeter, Maidstone and Southampton in the south. The company has 75 vehicles and the majority of deliveries are performed using their own transport wherever possible. Carriers are used for areas that can’t be delivered to by their own transport day-to-day. Whether they place an order over the phone, by email or by fax, customers can be sure their local branch of Parker Merchanting will deal with their order promptly and efficiently, as over 90% of all orders are delivered next day. The extensive network of Parker Merchanting field sales executives, national account managers and branch staff have a wealth of experience of the site environment and an excellent working knowledge of their local areas. Experienced consultants are available to offer clear, realistic and efficient advice, leaving customer’s time to concentrate on other areas of their business. Parker Merchanting respect that customers may have full time on-site safety professionals, but there may be occasions when they require additional external support, independent advice or project specific solutions that the company can assist with. Parker Merchanting have several of their own brands, all of which

have become well established in recent years. The eski janitorial brand was launched in 1978, followed in 1986 by the Defiance tools brand for the construction industry. Re-launched last year, the Graft Gear range of high quality PPE is the latest addition to the Parker Merchanting brand range. Last year, Parker Merchanting also launched their Training Consultancy offer and they are a company that are always looking to evolve and improve their services.

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Praybourne Limited has had its roots since 1979, firmly set in Redditch, Worcestershire. With its focus on design and delivery of the company's extensive collection of technical and high performance apparel. During the past 15 years, building brand reputation and awareness throughout the UK has been critical to the success of the company. Praybourne carefully select its global manufacturing partners through rigorous examination, to construct garments to its exacting standards. This gives every wearer the confidence that in selecting a Praybourne product, be it Pulsar®, Pulsarail® or Xcelcius® branded, they can be confident in the knowledge the garment will protect them from all elements and potential workplace hazards. The above statement is proven in that, following almost 3 years in development, Praybourne have introduced its Pulsar® FR High Visibility orange Class 3, GO/RT 3279, Flame Retardant, Anti-Static, Electric Arc protective combat coverall, together with its Class 2 combat trouser. Using Waxman Fibres' patented blend Protal® 5, these garments have a 16 Cal/cm² ATPV rating, which is virtually double the performance of the next market leading fabric currently available. Combine that with the Xcelcius® Electric Arc base layers and protection increases to a staggering 42.6 Cal/cm² ATPV rating. The new Pulsar® FR garments are a huge leap forward in high visibility orange multi hazard clothing, with initial stocks already selling well and further scheduled deliveries in place up to the end of the 2015. Another new garment recently introduced is the Pulsarail® Foul Weather Salopette. Being breathable and waterproof to class 3 and meeting the requirements of the latest EN ISO:20471 Class 2 and GO/RT 3279 standard. The Salopette has combat and knee pad pockets, zip opening at the hem of the legs for easing over work boots, 3M Scotchlite tape and quick release reflective elasticated braces. It is designed to be worn over the top of a light layer of clothing next to the skin and in conjunction with either the Storm Coat or Bomber Jacket. Pulsar® and Pulsarail® high visibility clothing is regarded as the best designed collection available in the market to date with functionality, performance and longevity ensuring best value for money. For further information please contact Praybourne on 0844 669 1860, email enquiries@praybourne.co.uk or visit www.praybourne.co.uk.

“We are here to make it easy for customers by making sure we get the right products for them at the right price, delivered on time” Dominic Proctor - Roles and responsibilities As General Manager, Dominic Proctor heads up the Parker Merchanting banner. He reports to the Rexel UK Chief Executive Officer who oversees all Rexel business in the UK. “My role is about giving leadership in the business, setting the direction and creating the right environment so that people feel empowered and motivated to go out and deliver success for us. I’ve got full financial responsibility for the business from a purchasing and inventory perspective to deliver results. I also have the health and safety responsibility, the moral responsibility for people and I am responsible for liaising with our customers. I also liaise with our employees, customers and suppliers, all the key stakeholders in the business. “My job is to create the right environment and make sure we’re driving the business forward to achieve sales growth by keeping people motivated and delivering results. I also make sure customers are kept absolutely happy while working to innovate our service offer.” Delivering targets through training and customer care As part of a large multi-national organisation Parker Merchanting always strive to achieve their sales targets. One of the key goals for Dominic is launching a customer centric service model. The customer is very much at the heart of everything the company does and they work hard to continually offer superior levels of service. “I feel that we took a massive stride forwards by launching our Training Consultancy offer, selling a solution and being seen as experts in safety, which we are. The Training Consultancy allows us to offer that solution to our customers, making sure that their employees stay safe and their businesses stay compliant. “We are here to make it easy for customers by making sure we get the right products for them at the right price, delivered on time. For me, a key part is customer centricity. Customers are at the heart of everything we do.” To support their commitment to

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SAFETY PRODUCTS: PARKER MERCHANTING

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customer care, Parker Merchanting engaged with an external provider, TLF, earlier this year and conducted a customer survey. The results of the survey will allow the company to make sure that they are fully aligned with their customers’ requirements and take their service to the next level of improvement. The company’s heritage is in the construction sector but they are looking to expand as they feel that their products are applicable to other markets. They are actively expanding into Facilities Management, the food sector, waste recycling and rail sectors. The right product at the right price There are over 6,000 product lines in the Parker Merchanting catalogue spread across 7 core product ranges. These products are stocked across the branch network. “Our view is that we are providing essential consumable items and PPE safety equipment to our customers. They can effectively come to us as a one stop shop and we can supply them with the essential items that they need to keep their workforce safe and equipped to do a good job. On a construction site, that’s critical and is why our next day delivery performance is so crucial to us. We know that if a site hasn’t got wheelbarrows, shovels, tools, janitorial equipment, even tea and coffee, and the essential PPE they need they can’t operate. We’re there just to make it easy for them. They can order quickly, we can supply quickly, and we keep them working. “We want to keep people safe but we also want to make sure that people have the tools to be able to work. That’s our offer really. We’re always looking to expand our offer and come up with innovations. We always try to be the first to market with any product innovation and we have a good reputation for that in the marketplace.”

“The Parker Merchanting Branding Team are one the best in the industry and are able to cope with even the most unusual of orders”

The National Branding Centre Branded clothing is an essential part of any company’s corporate image. Whether working on a motorway, in a warehouse, building site or rail line, projecting the correct corporate image is vital. Not only does branded clothing help promote businesses, it aids identification of colleagues and is also tax exempt. The Parker Merchanting National Branding Centre, located in Dagenham, Essex manages the branding process from start to finish, guaranteeing customers consistency of image and a single point of contact. Badges are heat sealed in minutes and, with a variety of transfers available, Parker Merchanting will find the correct badge to complement corporate logos and workwear. The company have been producing branded clothing, in-house, for over 7 years and have the capability to heat seal over 24,000 logos per week. They have a wealth of experience of the badging and branding process and pride themselves on making the whole process run smoothly. The latest addition to the National Branding Centre is the company’s very own embroidery facility. A team of embroidery specialists with a wealth of industry experience oversee the whole process from start to finish. The facility’s machines are software driven and are capable of converting any logo into a digital image for embroidery. The facility is capable of producing over 6,000 logos per week and customers can choose from over 300 colours for their embroidered logo. The Parker Merchanting Branding Team are one of the best in the industry and are able to cope with even the most unusual of orders. Whether customers require high visibility clothing in Aberdeen or 1,000 polo shirts in central London, the Branding Team can handle every request, overseeing orders from origination to completion. The job of kitting out operatives can be hard work and at times stressful. Parker Merchanting have a solution to this problem that cannot be beaten in the industry. The company’s system provides a detailed report of customers’ kit bag requirements and each report is tailored to their specific needs, highlighting every individual size, logo and colour ordered. Once the clothing is produced, it arrives in a bespoke kit bag for each specific employee.

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Be spill prepared not ill-prepared

Free OnSite Survey’s Certificated Spill Response Training At Ecospill® we don’t just offer a market leading range of spill prevention, control products and services, we really do work for you. Offering an unrivalled level of sales support together with a comprehensive product range that includes our own manufactured high performance absorbents, spill kits, spill pallets, external steel drum stores and industrial wipes. We also have extensive experience in assisting businesses of all sizes across all industries to find practical, sensible and cost effective solutions to their oil and chemical spillage control problems.

“Ecospill offer innovative technology and top quality spill solutions”. It’s what makes Ecospill® uniquely different in a very competitive marketplace and at the same time makes us an altogether better choice to do business with. Whatever your requirements, we are confident that we have a product or service that meets your needs. Parkers are an approved and valued Ecospill® distribution partner. We recognise that our distribution partners perform a vital role and form an essential part of our commercial operation. In order to provide them with the very best support, all of our partners enjoy a comprehensive, technical and sales support package including free spill risk audits and certificated spill response training.

Spill C Centre

Parker Merchanting brands Using the wrong tool for the job can be time consuming and potentially dangerous. The company’s extensive range of Defiance tools, fixings, maintenance and repair products means that there aren’t many jobs that customers can’t tackle. Defiance products deliver confidence, accuracy and quality. Manufactured from the highest quality raw materials and tested to the most rigorous standards, Defiance tools ensure a ‘professional performance’ every time. The eski hygiene range contains the company’s widest selection of products, including site safety signs, janitorial supplies and kit for maintenance staff. The eski brand is a sure way to guarantee good quality products. eski products are designed to be a reliable, cost effective solution to any business’s site maintenance, janitorial and hygiene needs. Graft Gear is a functional and stylish brand of PPE, brought to the market by Parker Merchanting. This robust and rugged brand provides the highest level of protection and has proven popular with a large number and range of customers. The Graft Gear range includes a wide variety of styles and products including: Eye Protection, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Protection, Hand Protection, Weather Protection, High Visibility Clothing, Workwear and Foot Protection. When it comes to supplier brands, Parker Merchanting carefully select suppliers to ensure they give customers the most practical and contemporary solutions for the work place. They work closely with customers to deliver the products they need when they need

them, along with first class service. Supplier brands currently stocked by the company include Bolle Safety, Centurion, EcoSpill, JSP and Regatta Professional amongst others. Serious about safety Health and safety is of the utmost importance to Parker Merchanting. The company have their own Health and Safety Policy that ensures the welfare of all employees. Ethics guides are in place and these are closely followed at all times, promoting health and safety in all areas of the business and all company facilities are subject to health and safety audits. Dominic Proctor’s Operations Manager sits on the Rexel Health and Safety Committee and they are active members of both the BSIF and RoSPA. Parker Merchanting were delighted to win the BSIF Safety Excellence Award in 2014. The company received a special mention for their unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest levels of on-site safety with their comprehensive ‘head to toe’ approach. The award was presented at the Safety and Health Expo on the 17th June at the London Excel Exhibition Centre, where Parker Merchanting launched their new Training and Consultancy offer.

“Parker Merchanting carefully select suppliers to ensure they give customers the most practical and contemporary solutions for the work place” HSE INTERNATIONAL

SAFETY PRODUCTS: PARKER MERCHANTING

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EMAR

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BSIF is the UK’s leading trade body within the safety industry. The organisation has over 160 members including manufacturers, distributors, test houses, certification bodies, safety professionals and service providers. It provides support and guidance on a wide range of occupational safety issues. Parker Merchanting are active members of BSIF and sign up to its accredited schemes. As part of their commitment to supplying ethically sourced products (for example, when buying from the Far East), the company ensure that they only supply products that are fit for purpose and are compliant to all the required standards. In addition, Parker Merchanting are a Registered Safety Supplier of BSIF; a scheme launched to combat the increasing risk that counterfeit safety goods pose to the market. The accreditation means the business has demonstrated integrity and a commitment to ethical trading. They have bindingly declared that the safety equipment offered meets the appropriate standards, fully complies with PPE regulations and is appropriately marked. “Last year we put forward for, and were delighted to win, the Safety Excellence Award. The award was for a case study we presented, working in partnership with Carillion, one of our key customers, and our preferred supplier Polyco. We carried out Hand Protection Surveys, performed a number of drop trials and came up with bespoke solutions and products for the different environments that their construction operatives work in, making sure that the hand protection they were provided with was fit for purpose. The case study directly influenced the development of our Training Consultancy Offer.”

“Health and safety is very much at the heart of our business. We don’t just talk about it, we do it ourselves and we do it to a very high standard”

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Rexel UK also received a RoSPA Gold Award last year in recognition of its approach to Safety Management and ongoing commitment to improving safety standards. “Health and safety is very much at the heart of our business. We don’t just talk about it, we do it ourselves and we do it to a very high standard. I think that’s important. Customers can know that we are real experts in safety, not only with the price we can offer and the products we provide but as we live and breathe it ourselves. Achilles UVDB (Utility Vendors Database) accreditation to UVDB standard No: 061930 further demonstrates the company’s commitment to quality. Achilles UVDB is the community for the UK utilities industry. It enables the utilities sector to use Achilles’ proven supplier pre-qualification system to manage risk within the supply chain and comply with EU regulations.

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SAFETY PRODUCTS: PARKER MERCHANTING

NEW ANTI-FOG AND ANTI-SCRATCH PLATINUM COATING

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Training and Consultancy Services The new Training and Consultancy offer from Parker Merchanting provides specialist services to customers as required. Experienced consultants are available to offer clear, realistic and efficient advice, leaving customers time to concentrate on other areas of their business. Qualitative Face Fit Training: Up-to-date nationwide research indicates that over 49% of all Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) used does not offer the wearer the level of protection assumed and one of the major reasons is that it simply does not fit. Yet under regulation, RPE must be correctly selected and this includes, for many types of RPE, a face piece Fit Test conducted by a competent person. As individuals, we come in differing shapes and sizes, and it is unlikely that a “one size” mask indeed fits all. Fit testing by accredited staff ensures the equipment selected is suitable for the wearer. Parker Merchanting can arrange for participants or members of their staff to train employees to fit test for themselves. Fit2Fit accredited staff are able to visit participants at their own location, or they can attend one of the company’s regional centres at their convenience. Qualitative Face Fit Training will allow businesses to fit RPE as stipulated in document OC 282/28 paragraph 24, with the overall

Bollé Safety revolutionizes eye protection with an innovation that meets all international standards, particularly EN166 option K and N. The new exclusive anti- fog and anti -scratch PLATINUM coating is now available on many models COBRA*, IRI-s*, RUSH +, CONTOUR, SILIUM+, SLAM+, B808, TRACKER, ATOM and BACKDRAFT. It guarantees more safety, reliability and comfort fit.

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“Parker Merchanting can also recommend how to stay in accordance with current regulations and best practices” intentional outcomes as: Understanding HSE 282/28, grasping the theory of Qualitative Testing and setting up a Qualitative Test kit in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Participants will then be able to complete a Sensitivity Test, record details of participants and the results of the test, and instruct the candidate in the test requirements. After training participants will be able to identify poorly fitted face masks, interpret results with effective failures and carry out a fit test. Workplace Site Spill Audit: Includes a written report highlighting any non-compliance with on-site Fluid Management Systems. Parker Merchanting can also recommend how to stay in accordance with current regulations and best practices. These are particularly relevant to businesses seeking to gain ISO 14001 or similar Environmental Management Standard accreditations. The importance of giving employees the confidence to respond to a spill in the correct manner, and with safety in mind at all times, is not to be under-estimated. It is training that can save lives as well as profits. Three course levels are on offer, all of which include a handson introduction to the components of the spill kit. These can be updated with a refresher course, keeping employees knowledgeable and up to date. Toolbox Training Courses provide an introduction to spill control

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absorbents and their deployment. The Intermediate Training Course offers in depth training, covering awareness of current legislation including ISO14001. The Advanced Training Course for the highest level of spill response is aimed at first responders and trainers. Professional Environmental Management is good for business and industry. Many pollution incidents are avoidable and failure to comply with the law could result in personal prosecution and huge fines. Parker Merchanting help businesses prevent possible prosecution, work in a safe place and aid the protection of the environment. Hand Protection Assessment Survey (HPAS): Selecting the most appropriate hand protection will help safeguard employees against unavoidable hazards and support organisations in taking steps towards improved health and safety practices. During 2012/2013, the estimated average number of days lost for each handling injury was 10.8 days. HPAS is an ideal starting point to help any organisation ensure their employees and business are protected from the risk of injury. With such a wide choice of hand and arm protection available, the process of selection is becoming increasingly complex. HPAS surveys provide a documented process to support organisations in their risk assessment procedures. The surveys help to ensure organisations

“Parker Merchanting help businesses prevent possible prosecution, work in a safe place and aid the protection of the environment”

comply with the current EN standards and legislation, in particular the Use of Personal Protective Equipment Directive 89/656/EEC. They provide a detailed report highlighting the most appropriate specifications of hand and arm protection and identify the areas where improvements can be made, both from a cost and best practice perspective. HPAS surveys are undertaken by glove industry experts and are conducted with no obligation to trial or buy. The surveys help safeguard against expensive claims and time lost due to employee absence through injury. Safety Prescription Eyewear: It is essential that safety glasses are accepted and worn by the people they are designed to protect. Prescription safety eyewear must include the same prescription as the worker’s standard prescription spectacles and be adapted to meet the visual demands of the workplace. Individuals who require corrective lenses should not be forced to wear over-spectacles that are not only uncomfortable but are also dated. Parker Merchanting have introduced a large range of corrective lens safety options, including spectacles and goggles, in conjunction with their preferred safety eyewear supplier Bolle. The range features various frames that can be glazed with four types of prescription lens: single vision, bifocal, progressive or free form, and three different lens materials: polycarbonate, CR39 or toughened glass.

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“New technologies are offering innovative ways to improve efficiency and reduce emissions” Environmental responsibility Parker Merchanting are accredited to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management standard. They make sure that all products are sourced ethically and at the lowest cost. As part of a continual commitment to ensure the company’s carbon footprint remains low, minimum order charges have been introduced, alongside working with customers to consolidate orders. Rather than delivering several times on smaller orders customers receive one large order, thus reducing the company’s carbon footprint. Parker Merchanting are the first UK distributor to be able to source and supply ethically sourced wood products. They continually innovate and develop new ways of improving their environmental credentials. The company made the decision to apply for FSC certification, after increasing calls for FSC products from their customers and their own desire to provide more sustainably resourced eco-friendly timber products. “We are continually looking to develop our environmental credentials and last year we were the first UK distributor in safety to source and become accredited, at chain of custody level, to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation. This means that the timber products we supply to construction sites (such as settingout pegs and profile boards) can be sourced from alternative products that have been manufactured in Rainforest Alliance certified forests. These products are assigned a separate product code number and we store them separately to make sure that they don’t get cross-contaminated with other wood products. We were audited by the FSC and we were delighted when we were able to be awarded the accreditation.” FSC is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting responsible forestry. FSC certifies forests all over the world to ensure they meet the highest environmental and social standards. Being FSC certified shows that a business complies with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. The FSC Multi-Site Chain of Custody certification is primarily for larger companies that have multiple sites and share the same function, methods or procedures, and is ideally suited to Parker Merchanting. After a stringent auditing process across the whole business, Parker Merchanting are now able to show an unbroken complete Chain of Custody, from the forest all the way to the end user. In order to become certified the company teamed up with the nonprofit organisation NEPCon, which carried out the audit to ensure compliance. NEPCon manages the Rainforest Alliance’s Forestry Programme in Europe and provides services under their accreditation. Parker Merchanting’s head office will now be responsible for controlling the Chain of Custody systems and audits of all sites annually. NEPCon will then perform an annual audit on a sample, dependent

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on the number of sites within the certificate, to ensure that records are being maintained as required. New technologies are offering innovative ways to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Later this year, Parker Merchanting will begin implementing state of the art route planning software. The software will allow routes to be planned efficiently and ensure company vehicles are travelling at the lowest cost while further reducing their carbon footprint. In addition to this, customers will be allowed to sign electronic tablets to confirm proof of delivery (POD). The company will then be able to sign those documents into their POD collector system. This will mean staff are no longer required to carry paper documentation. While customers still receive a paper copy, there is no need to make a duplicate copy for Parker Merchanting to keep and send back to their depots to scan in for their own records. These technologies are areas that the company will look towards developing further as they continue to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Parker Merchanting hold ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety

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SAFETY PRODUCTS: PARKER MERCHANTING

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accreditations. They also comply with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations for recycling electrical goods they supply to customers. Appliances such as kettles and microwave ovens are recycled back from customers. The company also recycle batteries as part of the WEEE regulations, further protecting the environment. The company are also members of Link Up. Link-up is the UK rail industry supplier qualification scheme, providing a single common registration, qualification and audit process for suppliers. Membership assures the company understand the requirements of the rail industry, the standards of their garment specifications and supply products that are fit for purpose.

enquiries@lsinternational.co.uk www.lsinternational.co.uk

Career opportunities and recruitment As Parker Merchanting are part of a large organisation, there are always career opportunities and vacancies available. All vacancies are advertised internally and the company always tries to promote from within. Every year the business actively run a Rexel Academy in the UK for managers and team leaders. The Academy is all about developing the next generation of stars, the people who will be potential future managers and team leaders. It secures them valuable leadership and management skills, which they can then utilise in the workplace. The Rexel Academy course runs over 9 months, with staff taking time out during work across that 9 month period, for 2 days each month. They must also complete project work as a follow-up. The course is a key part of staff career development and raises the standards of all who take part. The Rexel Academy is a comprehensive training course that people enjoy and benefit from participating in. The company are passionate about promoting apprenticeships as a way of training future members of staff. “We are very much encouraging apprenticeships. We’ve recruited 5 apprentices in our branch network and it’s an area that we will continue to be committed to, bringing young people into the business, giving them a start, and training them up. We’re very pleased by how these apprenticeships are going and we’re committed to them, as are Rexel. We also have a system called Success Factors, where we evaluate employees’ performance every year through an annual review. We also set targets and goals for the next year which we’re then able to measure. The Success Factors system includes employee training and development opportunities.”

Tel. 01902 497 626 Fax. 01902 495 638

Passionate about customer service Parker Merchanting are passionate about supporting their customers and are always looking to innovate and develop their service offering. Customers are very much at the heart of the business, and this inspired the launch of their new Training Consultancy offer. As part of their service commitment to customers the company launched their new website last year. The website offers customers the ability to order online if they prefer and has two unique, industry leading features. All Parker Merchanting products are available online

“Parker Merchanting are passionate about supporting their customers and they are always looking to innovate and develop their service offering”

LS International Ltd Unit C8 Central Avenue Hilton Trading Estate Hilton Road Wolverhampton WV4 6DW

LS International are one of the largest independent UK Clothing Manufacturers of High Quality, fully EN Certified, Flame Retardant Garments. We are members of the PROTAL® partnership, guaranteeing consistency of compliance and traceability throughout.

Tel: 01772 693 766

Fax: 01772 693 760

www.moyneroberts.com

and customers can create a bespoke login, allowing them to review their own contract prices as well as trade prices. Customers are able to view product availability online so they can order with confidence knowing their chosen products are in stock. They also benefit from an 8pm cut-off for next day delivery. “Our job is to make sure customers are given the best possible advice and the best possible products so that they stay compliant and their employees stay safe. We achieve this by providing a local service and the majority of our deliveries are completed next day. In fact, over 90 percent of our deliveries are completed next day for core products. We’re always there to help, and we’re always there to source products and make sure customers have got the right products, at the right price, at the right time. We’re here to make our customers’ lives easier as they’ll inevitably have a million and one other things to worry about. Customers need these essential products and a trusted partner who makes it easy for them to acquire those products. I firmly believe that if we continue to do this, we will be continuing to innovate and move forward.”

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SAFETY PRODUCTS: REDBACKS® CUSHIONING LTD

Comfort and Joy An interview with Cliff Lockyer, CEO of Redbacks Cushioning Ltd

CLIFF LOCKYER, CEO

Redbacks® was formed in 2011 in order to develop our cushioning invention for which we now hold a number of international patents. The technology is unique in that the patent is for the geometric structure and not the material; we are free to use any material that we deem appropriate to the product application. The structure contains a flexible leaf spring, or springs, held within a geometric matrix, which provides support by suspension and not by compression. It is therefore unlike foam and offers numerous benefits that foam cannot. Kneepads:

Having researched the protective clothing market, we confirmed our belief that existing knee pads did nothing to cushion, comfort or protect the user’s knees from long term damage; in the UK the NHS replaces over 90,000 knees per year. This figure exceeds 600,000 in the USA at an average cost of $45,000 per operation. We knew that for our knee pads to be really effective they needed to be made of soft flexible material

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and not foam, as pressure from kneeling causes foam to flatten or disintegrate. This spurred us on to adopt a scientific approach in order to develop our first bespoke knee pad for workers who rely on longterm comfort and protection to their knees whilst working. In September 2011 we secured a worldwide patent for the product and have since begun turning our attentions to other exciting applications for the technology, including footwear and seating. Developing cushioning and protection technology is an exacting science - rightly so, given the considerable stresses everyday work activities such as kneeling, bending and standing place on the human body. The secret to our own science lies in the use of a special moulded leaf-spring suspended in an arch by a flexible honeycomb matrix. When pressure is applied directly above the spring it bends, dispersing pressure and distributing weight evenly. The matrix provides a holding structure for the spring to control its bend and stabilise the entire structure, allowing pressure to be distributed evenly time after time.

Both the honeycomb matrix and the leaf-spring are made from the same thermoplastic injection moulded material, ensuring a high compression rate and 100% recovery to its original shape, which means no loss of function over time. This combination gives the unique controlled distribution and deceleration of pressure – in other words protecting the body from impact forces making it particularly effective for pressure relief when standing, sitting, lying down or kneeling. It is this memory aspect to the material that elevates our technology above the competition. Differing from basic foams such as PU and EVA, which provide limited cushioning by air pockets that collapse relatively quickly, Redbacks Cushioning Technology ultimately performs at a higher cushioning rate for longer, enabling you to work harder for longer in greater comfort. After 3 years of research, initial development and a vigorous and continuous sales and marketing campaign, we are very well placed to accelerate our progress throughout 2015; many leading PPE distributors and organisations with large workforces, together with thousands of self-employed professionals have already recognised the true health and safety benefits which our products provide and we are more than confident that these will be joined by many more over the coming months and years.

Our Mission Redbacks Cushioning is about helping people to work safer, more comfortably and for longer, whatever their working or leisure environment. Our mission is to continue to develop class-leading products that promote good health, comfort and wellbeing by reducing pressure on the human anatomy. We only use the highest quality, recyclable materials in our products, to maximise longevity and durability for users, whilst reducing our impact on the planet.

Footwear:

In 2012 we started designing Redbacks Cushioning Technology for use as a midsole in a wide variety of shoes, trainers, walking and safety boots. An eminent team of podiatrists, biomechanical engineers and designers worked in collaboration to successfully create a midsole that delivers unrivalled comfort together with outstanding scientifically proven results. A number of internationally established footwear manufacturers are now keen to work with us; during 2015 we will be launching our first range of revolutionary safety footwear which will incorporate the original Redbacks cushioning technology giving ‘direction of force’ flexibility which ensures the even distribution of the impact forces whilst walking; this alleviates pressure on the feet and the rest of the body by absorbing energy and making walking as light and comfortable as possible.

The company, which is a member of BSIF has won a number of awards over the past 3 years, for its kneepad design, one of the most significant being the prestigious SATRA Best Innovation Occupational PPE Award in 2012; professional tradespeople who are readers of some of the UK’s leading trade publications have also voted in nationwide polls for Redbacks kneepads as an award winning product.

All Redbacks Cushioning products are patented worldwide, and fully CE approved.

Seating:

Our experience with the kneepads and footwear is now leading us to develop a completely unique type of seating with similar cushioning health and safety benefits. Discussions are well down the line with representatives from the automotive, rail and aviation industries who are interested in us offering the first credible alternative to the traditional polyester fibre wadding, polyurethane foam, metal springs and gels used by today’s manufacturers.

For more information visit: www.redbackscushioning.com

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SAFETY PRODUCTS: ERGODYNE® TENACIOUS WORKGEAR®

Make The Workplace A Betterplace™ Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ergodyne has pioneered the development of safety products including hardworking safety gear and clothing for multiple industries including Construction, Mining, Manufacturing, Utilities, and Oil and Gas. We speak to Thomas Votel, President and CEO to hear the inside story behind the products that Make The Workplace A Betterplace™.

Thomas Votel, President & CEO

rgodyne began life 32 years ago in St. Paul, Minnesota as an ergonomic business which at that time, was pretty innovative. With a robust history and heritage in all kinds of ergonomic products, Ergodyne has since evolved with a substantial range of products that are organised around 3 pillars of protection: Protective Products, Productivity Products, and Elements (products that address temperature stress related issues.) These pillars house 10 different brands making up 500+ models and over 1700 SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) and are continuously growing. Ergodyne has a highly diverse and varied group of products catering to temperature stress, objects at heights, arc flash and flash fire (flame resistant apparel), hand protection, ergonomics, head, eye, and face protection and more. All product offerings are focused for specific audiences and industries. The company is very active in North America, with the US and

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Canada being their most significant markets but have been selling to the EU for over 25 years. With a distribution centre in Amsterdam and the Netherlands, the company has a strong presence in Europe and key countries with the greatest trading areas in the UK and France. Beyond that, in the global theatre, Ergodyne has a solid operation in the Middle East, Australasia, and Brazil. Whether workers are pushing and pulling, sweating, and/or risking life and limb, Ergodyne offers safety products to help get the job done without injury. They operate in all industries where workers are at risk. Their products are suited to all major industries, including but not limited to: Manufacturing and Fabrication, the Food sector, the entire Energy sector including Wind and Solar industries but in particular, Oil and Gas, Telecoms, heavy Construction and Infrastructure (less so in residential Construction or what they call ‘sticks and bricks’), Air Transportation, and Mechanics. Thomas Votel: “I have a BA and MBA in Business and as I have been doing this for 32 years, I have a lot of experience in speaking to all kinds of groups about a variety of risks and other health and safety related topics. Ergodyne has evolved into an organisation that has several well educated individuals who specialise in specific risk topics. I’m active on several boards but most significantly, the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) which is based in the US but has fantastic international engagement. I head up a committee and also participate in their product committees. ISEA is a very important body in the US and is at the forefront of setting standards. We’re also keen members of the Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme (DROPS) which focuses on dropped objects at heights, is very active in the Construction and Oil and Gas industries, and is prevalent in the EU.”

WITH AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE, ERGODYNE ARE MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS: • Affiliated Distributors • Afflink • ASSE (The American Society of Safety Engineers) • ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) • DPA Safety • DROPS – Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme • Evergreen Marketing Group • IADC - International Association of Drilling Contractors • INCOM Distributor Supply • INDICA Marketing Group • ISEA – International Safety Equipment Association • NATE – National Association of Tower Erectors • NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) • National Safety Council • SMG • STAFDA (Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association) • VPP (Voluntary Protection Programs, an OSHA Cooperative Program)

rgodyne has evolved smartly over the past 32 years expanding their product offering into many channels of the safety industry. They expect this growth to continue. “We are very much looking forward to 2015 as we have a very ambitious plan. We have just launched two major lines of products that are technical from a safety perspective: the Skullerz® Eyewear line of safety glasses and CORE Performance Work Wear® Flame Resistant apparel. Both are new to Ergodyne and a significant development and expansion for the company. “Another area of focus is what we call Objects at Heights which is similar to the DROPS concept. This range comes under our Squids® brand (tool lanyards for dropped object prevention at heights) and our Arsenal® Gear Storage line. This has become a very significant topic globally, with the EU already being very active in bringing about standards. In the US, for example, in late November 2014, a construction worker in his 50s died after being hit on the head by a tape measure that fell 50 stories from the belt of another construction worker, on a site in Jersey City, New York. He was not wearing a hard hat, though he did have one in his car, and the tape measure 50 stories above was not properly tethered to the worker, according to Police. The issue is very relevant in the US health and safety climate and Ergodyne is at the forefront of this major risk. We have great product range in the Objects at Heights area and are constantly looking to expand.” At Ergodyne, values come down to one thing - the golden rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ “We believe in fairness and in the philosophy of reciprocity - we very much live that credo. We have loyal business partners who’ve worked with us for many years and are also very proud in giving an unusually high percentage of our pre-taxed income to all kinds of charitable organizations. We focus those donations around community, health, and arts and education and have a giving

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SAFETY PRODUCTS: ERGODYNE® TENACIOUS WORKGEAR®

team responsible in coordinating and organizing donations and charity events. All the people we engage with are very focused on treating people fair and square. That’s a really essential value that we’ve spent 32 years living up to. “An example of one of our charitable activities connected to the EU is what we call Tenacious Toilets™. One of our business partners in Amsterdam has an NGO (non-governmental organisation) called Argo Nepal which builds toilets for people in a remote region of Nepal; an area of the Himalayas. We sponsored our first toilet in 2014, are currently building our second toilet, and have committed to sponsoring one Tenacious Toilet™ annually. We’re very proud and excited about the project as it gives communities a most basic need. I think this project represents the culture we have at Ergodyne and the kind of spirit we have in terms of our ethos.” Although they are not officially certified, Ergodyne does have ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) in place. They follow the ISO protocol very rigorously and are audited by an independent third party on a quarterly basis. “While we haven’t done the technical part of ISO, we certainly agree and comply with it on a best practice perspective and selfcertifying basis. We consider official certification from time to time but the most critical thing for us is that we comply with the standard and the third party audit honours. Of course, a lot of our products require third party testing and standardisation, including our eyewear, high visibility clothing, and Core Performance Work Wear® flame resistant apparel. We also comply with UL (the global independent safety science company).” Ergodyne is actively engaged in the safety and health community and work tirelessly to make sure their products are high functioning, extremely durable, and reliable. Workers expect

HSE INTERNATIONAL

Ergodyne’s products to not only comply with safety standards but also demand the best in style and comfort. “Almost all of our product categories have detailed and robust training programs including webinars, in-field trainings, threeday Tenacious University™ deep dive, technical white papers, and more. Our product managers and sales team teach workers how to tether their tools properly, how to implement a heat stress or cold stress program, how to launder FR apparel, and more. Above all, we offer our customers the most innovative and well-crafted safety and training solutions out there. Safety professionals and workers very much desire and demand this and we want to assist and help them achieve zero injuries. We have a training facility called the Tenacious Learning Centre and a University called the Tenacious University™ - a three day intense training on all product categories with hands on training from Ergodyne’s top experts. Many of our sellers, distributors, and all Ergodyne employees are required to attend Tenacious University™ training at least every 2 years. Every aspect of Ergodyne is focused on improving efficiency and driving safe and smart work practices. “We are obsessed with safety and our organisation focuses on serving the frontline workers and the HSE directors around the world who are responsible for ensuring safety on jobsites. We want to give them great product solutions, great training, and even better support so they can make sure those workers are protected and free from injuries. We also strive to ensure our authorised global distributor network are all trained to go out and serve those customers well. Our entire outward facing supply chain, I would say too, are obsessed with the safety, health, and welfare of not only our workers but also, critically, our customers. “Our whole existence, our motto and mission is: to ‘Make The Workplace A Betterplace™’.”

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