Case Study 1: Archbell Greenwood Structures (AGS) Ltd

Encouraging steel erectors to get involved in health and safety in Archbell Greenwood Structures (AGS) Ltd

The problem

While workers at AGS are encouraged by management to raise health and safety concerns on an on-going basis (e.g. in toolbox talks, discussions when wage packs are handed out), it is often a challenge to get workers involved in health and safety matters across the business.

The LWIT health and safety diagnostic tool showed that, whilst workers occasionally raise safety issues with management, there was further scope to engage the workforce, and thereby raising the profile and knowledge of safety and prevention of ill health across the business.

The solution

• AGS developed two charge-hands (lead workers in a group of three workers operating a crane) to site supervisory roles by helping to identify their health and safety training needs for managing health and safety on site (e.g. Appointed Persons Course for cranes).
• AGS implemented site observation cards (SOCs), to encourage workers to report good and poor practice they see on site.
• AGS used four LWIT information sheets, selected to give the site supervisors tips on how to make their toolbox talks more interactive.
• Introduced initially at two larger sites, SOCs were key to involving workers in health and safety matters and facilitating conversations about health and safety between management and workers on an on-going basis.
• SOCs were then rolled out to smaller sites in a gradual process.

The outcome

• Senior and middle management noticed that workers were more engaged in health and safety since introducing SOCs on site. Workers seem willing to make management aware of safe and unsafe practices either through completing SOCs or speaking to site supervisors about their observations.
• The leadership tools increased awareness amongst management of the importance of getting workers on board, and the key role that they have in driving home the message to the workforce regarding the importance of completing the SOCs.
• Project managers have also come on board who previously did not consider safety to be their concern.
• Leadership skills of site managers and supervisors have improved considerably through giving them more autonomy for health and safety on their site, supported by the necessary training.

Read the full text of the Archbell Greenwood Structures Ltd case study.