Breedon Cement’s commitment to Health & Safety was once again underlined by its success at the 31st National Irish Safety Organisation / Northern Ireland Safety Group (NISO / NISG) Annual Safety Awards which were presented at the Galmont Hotel, Galway on November 11 last.
NISO’s mission is to create conditions where Irish workplaces are among the safest and healthiest in Europe, and Breedon Cement continues to excel in that regard. Employing 115 people in Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath where it operates one of the most modern cement manufacturing facilities in the world, Breedon was delighted to win a Distinction Award which not only reflects well on the Health & Safety team, but on all the staff and contractors.
“This award is down to the dedication, hard work and commitment of all Breedon staff and contractors who actively participate in making this site a safer place to work, and promote our values of making a material difference to the safety, health and wellbeing of everyone by ensuring they go home safe and well after their day’s work,” Breedon Cement Health & Safety Manager Patrick Walsh says.
“All our staff and contractors work extremely hard to improve our Health & Safety standards, so it’s nice to achieve this recognition for the hard work that is put in.”
The NISO / NISG Awards were established in 1992 with just 20 entries and have grown to become Ireland’s premier safety awards. The Awards scheme recognises achievement in Health & Safety Management Systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement. The Awards are also a way of auditing company’s Health & Safety Management Systems and finding out how well they’re performing against other companies within the construction sector.
To achieve a NISO Health & Safety Award, companies have to submit information and examples of how Health & Safety is managed on a day-to-day basis in the following areas: Health & Safety Management, Hazard Identification & Risk Management, Implementation and Operation of Health & Safety Policies and Procedures, Health & Safety Communication and Consultation, Proactive Health & Safety Management, Occupational Health & Hygiene, Workplace Health & Wellbeing, Health & Safety Training, Reactive Health & Safety Management, Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Work-Related Vehicle Safety, including Driving for Work.
Lagan Cement commenced clinker and cement production at Kinnegad in September 2002 before being acquired by the Breedon Group in April 2018. Now trading as Breedon Cement Ireland Ltd, the company’s vision is to be an industry-leader and to foster a culture of continuous improvement to provide job security for all and to be a company that all staff members are proud to be a part of.
Breedon Cement has a number of safety, environmental and quality accreditations, including ISO 45001:2018, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015 and an excellent rating in BES 6001: Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products.
With safety being its number one priority, Breedon Cement seeks continuous improvement through its 5-Star Safety programme. Breedon Cement management recognise that creating a safe working environment is not an easy task. Worker participation is key to the success or failure of any safety campaign. Everyone who works for the company has an input into how it successfully manages the health and wellbeing of people on-site.
The 5-Star Safety initiative was devised as a way of involving workers in all aspects of Health & Safety onsite, and to highlight the importance of teamwork in promoting the safety culture onsite. The initiative divided up the departments equally so that each work together for Health & Safety and encourages reporting of safety concerns, recognises good safety behaviour and facilitates ongoing communication of a positive site safety culture through team meetings, safety improvements and site auditing.
In 2021, wellbeing initiatives were introduced into the campaign and Breedon Cement’s eight teams have already developed a number of noteworthy initiatives, including ideas on promoting physical and mental health such as a wellness walking trail which was officially opened in October 2021.
Breedon Cement recognises that it operates in a community and therefore has a valuable role to play in supporting and engaging with the local community. Every year, the company brings hundreds of students and visitors on-site for presentations, site tours and biodiversity walks.
Co-fuelling using greener energy from alternative fuels commenced in June 2006. Breedon Cement has set an overarching sustainability framework to focus its efforts on the three main areas which it believes can make a positive material difference. The first is through our Planet by reducing energy used and carbon emissions, reducing waste, responsible use of resources such as minerals and water, and enhancing nature and biodiversity.
The second is through People by developing and empowering a diverse, talented workforce, having a positive impact on the communities in which Breedon operates and its Place in helping customers mitigate their impacts by providing products and services that deliver higher performance, resources efficient buildings and resilient low impact infrastructure.
These three focus areas are underpinned by a number of fundamental principles that guide the way the company does business. These include: keeping colleagues, contractors and supply chain healthy, safe and well; good governance, ensuring sustainability is considered through the organisation; quality assurance and continuous improvement of products and services; operating compatibility, transparently and with integrity, ensuring ethical operations and responsible sourcing; engaging openly and collaboratively with stakeholders, colleagues, customers, investors and the communities in which Breedon Cement operates.
Breedon recently embarked on an employer brand campaign called ‘Inside Breedon’ to promote itself as a ‘preferred employer’ within the Irish construction industry.
Breedon Cement Ltd
Killaskillen,
Kinnegad,
Co. Westmeath,
N91 D253.
Telephone: 044 937 9200
Web: www.breedongroup.com
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, June 2023, Vol 9 No 6
