Tag: Safety

SCP safety stand down with Sunbelt Rentals

Posted on by helent
(L-R) Mike Harrison (Major Projects Powered Access for Sunbelt), Ryan Capitano (Sales Director for Sunbelt), Bradley Goulding (organiser) BBK Health, Safety & Wellbeing Advisor.
(L-R) Mike Harrison (Major Projects Powered Access for Sunbelt), Ryan Capitano (Sales Director for Sunbelt), Bradley Goulding (organiser) BBK Health, Safety & Wellbeing Advisor.

Our SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) team recently attended a safety stand down with Sunbelt Rentals in Whitehaven, alongside our supply chain partner, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick.

The event was set up as a response to operative feedback about challenges using mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and the enhanced safety mechanisms being used on our construction sites. With a number of new operatives recently joining the project, it was also a timely opportunity for familiarisation and hands on learning.

Mike Harrison, Sunbelt major projects powered access lead, and Ryan Capitano, Sunbelt head of sales, delivered an excellent demonstration of the improved equipment safety systems (EQSS) on the MEWPs. The session gave our operatives the chance to gain first-hand experience with the enhanced technologies, and to engage directly with the manufacturer to ask questions and share feedback.

Molly Young, SCP ADT Health and Safety Advisor, said:

“It was great to hear our operatives sharing their own experiences of how this innovation could support them at the workface. It’s fantastic to see our suppliers working collaboratively with us to ensure we have the best possible equipment on site.”

Bradley Goulding, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Advisor on SCP, added:

“The event went really well. The operatives were engaged and asked a lot of good questions. They also made some good challenges to the manufacturer, highlighting the issues they are facing and what could be changed to improve the system.

“Ryan Capitano demonstrated the EQSS system against another system and also the upgrade to the EQSS system, which was all about making it more user-friendly, one of the main concerns raised by our team. A lot of those concerns were addressed, and the operatives got the opportunity to test the upgraded system at the workshop, where the improvements received a resounding thumbs up. The difference was described as ‘night and day.’”

The Safety Stand Down served several key purposes:

  1. It provided vital familiarisation for new operatives unfamiliar with the EQSS system.

  2. It created a platform for direct dialogue between our team and the manufacturer and supplier, helping to resolve ongoing issues.

  3. It reinforced our commitment to listening to our operative’s concerns and actively seeking practical, market-ready solutions.

  4. It allowed us to gather feedback on the system upgrades directly from those using the equipment day to day.

Showcasing safety at Sellafield SHEQ conference

Posted on by helent

Sellafield SHEQ ConferenceOur safety team were busy at the Sellafield SHEQ Conference, showcasing the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Hub and the positive changes it has brought in.

Colleagues who came to the conference were able to see our journey to Knowingly Safe come to life, shown on ‘The Fells’ display.

They could also see a demonstration of how innovative 4D Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is aiding our major projects.

We got some fantastic feedback on our Life Saving Principles and Mental Fitness Principles, which link back to our Golden Rules.

And we also had two of our Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) on display, thanks to Nationwide Platforms and Sunbelt Rentals.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped pull the day together and who came and supported us.

Jack Tomlinson, PPP EHS improvement manager, said: “Within PDD we are always looking for opportunities to share some of the best practices that we are driving through the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Hub.

“But, more importantly, during this conference we were able to learn from the broader Sellafield enterprise and its different operating units.

“The session felt particularly engaging and it was great to see representation from all our major project EHS teams who came together to support the Knowingly Safe message.

“The HSW hub is a true symbol of collaboration and best practice and it’s great to be able to show the benefits of using supply chain expertise to fix our health and safety challenges on Sellafield.”

Kier rewarded for commitment to safety on SRP

Posted on by helent
SRP safety energy award was presented by Rob Seale, senior project manager (left), to James Wotherspoon, Kier construction manager.
SRP safety energy award was presented by Rob Seale, senior project manager (left), to James Wotherspoon, Kier construction manager.

Congratulations to Kier, part of our supply chain, as they are awarded this month’s safety energy contractor of the month on our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP).

They won this for achieving 100% safety energy and demonstrating an outstanding commitment to safety.

The award was presented to James Wotherspoon, Kier construction manager, by Rob Seale, senior project manager, recognising Kier’s proactive approach to driving observations, team engagement, and their positive response to a recent unplanned event.

James Wotherspoon said: “This award reflects the dedication of our team to maintaining a safe and proactive working environment. Achieving 100% safety energy is a testament to the engagement and commitment of everyone on site.

“We will continue to build on this success and keep safety at the heart of everything we do.”

Well done to Kier for leading by example and keeping safety front and centre.

BBK recognised on SRP for Safety Energy efforts

Posted on by helent
(L-R) John Leslie, SRP Project Director, presenting Cameron Fletcher, BBK, with the Safety Energy Contractor of the Month award.
(L-R) John Leslie, SRP Project Director, presenting Cameron Fletcher, BBK, with the Safety Energy Contractor of the Month award.

One of our Key Delivery Partners (KDPs), Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick (BBK), started the year off on a high note – being recognised with our Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant’s (SRP) Safety Energy Contractor of the Month award for January 2025.

BBK has maintained an excellent Safety Energy performance score on the project. This achievement is testament to the unwavering commitment of the entire team to create a safe and secure working environment, underpinned by a strong focus on people, culture and effective process.

The BBK team was also recognised for its collaborative efforts, working closely with the project team and NG Bailey, during an incident investigation to help provide valuable learning.

By building a culture of collaboration, the site has encouraged everyone to have a voice in safety matters, making suggestions, highlighting concerns and celebrating safety success.

Cameron Fletcher, BBK senior health, safety and wellbeing advisor, said:

“I am deeply proud of the project team for their commitment to health and safety. Their collaborative approach, working together to create a safe environment, ensures, not only the success of the project, but also the wellbeing of every individual involved. It’s a true testament to their professionalism on the journey to Knowingly Safe.”

Ged’s commitment to safety observations

Posted on by helent

Observations are the cornerstone of our safety culture at PPP and general foreman, Ged Young, has made an exceptional contribution to this effort. He has recorded an impressive 550 observations on the Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP), since the inception of PPP observations.

To put this number into context, Ged has raised more observations than anyone else within the programme, and is the only member of the 500 Club. We have seen other exceptional contributions from our people but nothing of this scale.

Ged Young leads the way in observations across PPP
Ged Young leads the way in observations across PPP

His dedication not only highlights the importance of proactive safety measures but also inspires others to take an active role in building a safer workplace on our major projects.

With 35 years of experience as a supervisor before stepping into his role as a general foreman, Ged’s career is a testament to dedication, expertise, and a commitment to having the courage to care.

His vast experience, and unwavering dedication to safety, has made him a standout figure at PPP, where he has recorded over 210 observations on SRP in 2024 alone.

Safety observations are an opportunity

Reflecting on his decades of leadership, Ged emphasised the importance of a Knowingly Safe culture. He often uses observations as a way to engage his team and drive meaningful improvements. He said:

“It’s about having the courage to care to have the conversations, guiding the team and helping them understand why safety measures matter, and making sure they’re equipped to work confidently and securely.

“An observation is more than just a report, it’s an opportunity to fix issues, prevent incidents, and make sure everyone feels heard.

“Safety doesn’t take a break. Keep making those observations, keep communicating, and remember that every action you take, positive or negative, contributes to a safer, more productive site. Let’s carry this momentum.”

NG Bailey: Award for critical safety intervention

Posted on by Ursula Hutchinson

Two NG Bailey electricians have been hailed for a critical safety intervention that potentially halted a serious incident.

Greg Henderson and Daniel Dickinson were working for NG Bailey on the Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) when they had a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) delivered to the site.

During the initial pre-use checks of the Skyjack Scissor MEWP, they discovered that the protective handrail around the basket had become detached, due to a fault with the securing bolt that holds the two handrail sections together.

This quick identification and action prevented a potentially serious incident to keep everyone on PPP Knowingly Safe.

In recognition of their diligence and commitment to safety, Greg and Daniel were presented with Value Awards by Kent Fearon, NG Bailey – SRP Safety Manager.

He said: “This incident highlights the critical importance of the pre-use checks on equipment.

“These awards celebrate individuals who go above and beyond, clearly demonstrating our core values, particularly regarding safety. Well done, Greg and Daniel, on your outstanding contribution.”

MEWP Standard is raising the bar

Posted on by Ursula Hutchinson

Bringing everyone home safely is a key objective across Major Projects at Sellafield – and the new Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP) standard launched by the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Hub, aims to do just that.

A Major Projects MEWP Co-Ordinators Engagement Day was held at Whitehaven Golf Club to bring together the Hub, PDD and PPP leaders, the supply chain and key MEWP suppliers.

The aim was to assess the new standard and see how it is being received and applied across the projects.

Within the construction industry, there are three times the amount of incidents involving Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP) compared to any other industry.

And we want to get ahead of that curve and ensure that everyone working with a MEWP is Knowingly Safe and the new standard will help ensure that.

By combining how we co-ordinate MEWP work, how we manage it through plans and procedures and then utilising the best technology available we hope to ensure that we can complete high risk work activities safely.

Following a fatality involving a MEWP during the construction of Everton FC’s new stadium, Jack Tomlinson (PPP EHS Improvement Manager), Karl Hine (Severfield EHS Lead) and Mark Atkinson (SRP Snr EHS Advisor) were asked to develop a spoke to work on MEWP management.

The spoke looked at best practice across the main Key Delivery Partners (KDPs) supply chain partners and the wider construction industry to come up with what is now the Sellafield Project Delivery Directorate (PDD) MEWP Standard.

The new standard looks at improved safety measures, using technology, a project specific MEWP management plan, increased operative competency and introduces new roles for supply chain MEWP Co-ordinator and project MEWP co-ordinators.

Duncan Elliott, Head of PPP, said:

“We want to give everyone a working environment to do the right things to make us Knowingly Safe and get the wider industry into a better place.

“It is about wanting to lead the industry but also there is a strong moral pull. In 2024 people are still being killed in the construction industry and that is unforgivable. We want to do something about that.”

Jack Tomlinson, PPP EHS Improvement Manager & MEWP Spoke Lead, said:

“Many people will remember the Government campaign about car seatbelts ‘clunk click, every trip’, launched at the time it was acceptable not to wear seatbelts.

“However because of targeted campaigns and technology, the use of seatbelts hit the ‘tipping point’ and now it is clearly unacceptable not to use seatbelts.

“We have used this approach to MEWPs. The technology is available and we must use it to bolster safe working practices during this high hazard task. I am exceptionally proud of the MEWP spoke’s work on this and it’s inspiring to see the leap we have made.”

Steve Harnwell, PPP Delivery Director for construction projects, added:

“We do a lot of work at height and part of that is using these MEWP platforms which, in itself, while safer, does present danger.

“This standard is to bring the best practice, best machines, best features in using technology with people to make people safer.

“That’s about being Knowingly Safe so people turn up at work and leave as they have arrived, back to their families.”