Guidance

A new edition of the Code of Practice for Safe Stressing of Prestressed Concrete Products has been developed by MPA Precast to communicate good practice in the management of health and safety when manufacturing prestressed concrete products.

Prepared in collaboration with the membership of MPA Precast and with the support of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Code of Practice (CoP) applies to all companies with prestressing activity on their sites. The aim is for the CoP to be shared at all levels within the precast industry.

A method used for cleaning many static concrete mixers in the United Kingdom involves workers entering the mixer to remove hardened concrete residue with hand-held power tools. Some of these workers have developed Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, an occupational disease that is caused by regular use of these tools. Other health and safety risks, such as exposure to noise and entry into the confined space of the mixer, require duty holders to apply suitable controls for these residue cleaning operations.

Please see HSE research on alternative cleaning processes.

Rail Freight Operations Group - Code of Practice

Loading of Bulk Wagons - Version 2

The purpose of this approved code of practice is to offer guidance to parties engaged in the process and management of loading bulk products onto rail wagons, such that the risks associated with the transportation of wagons are minimised. Included is the management of risk associated with residual / incomplete loading and unloading events.

This new guidance document is the primary output from an MPA Asphalt Contract Surfacing Working Group in relation to Mechanical Road Sweeper and Spray Tanker operations, in particular within the highways construction and maintenance environment.

The document has been developed to give Members, their clients and specifiers, and other stakeholders a focused approach to considering the requirements of operating in this sector, through the adoption of its recommendations.

This handbook is jointly developed by the members of the Mineral Products Association (MPA), Transport Committee and Health and Safety Committee, as a tool for drivers of cars and vans to help them understand and manage the risks that they face and create when driving and operating vehicles for work. It will help people make safer choices about the way they drive and behave around vehicles.  

This updated version includes the following additional elements

• Introduction references Vision Zero and Fatal 6
• Content on operation electric cars and vans added
• Wording changed to reflect new rules on use of hand held mobile devices whilst driving
• Section on towing expanded
• Applicable for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes GVW

This document provides signposting for support and resources to assist in the management of mental wealth and wellbeing issues in the work place.

QNJAC has tailored the links to the resources so that they are the most appropriate based on your role.

This risk assessment form includes questions that relate to six potential psychological hazards that can be the causes of stress at work. These are job demands, control, support, relationships, role and change.

Employees should complete this form and discuss with their line managers.

Line Managers should analyse the findings of the risk assessment with the employee concerned, identify potential risk factors, agree an action plan, take action, record, evaluate and review 

Over-pressurisation of silos during deliveries can result in silos rupturing or filter housings being ejected and a significant risk of ‘struck by’ injuries. ‘Struck by flying or falling objects’ is one of the MPA’s ‘Fatal 6’; the high consequence hazards responsible for most of the major injuries and fatalities within the sector.

The MPA checklist for bulk powder deliveries can be used by those businesses delivering mineral powders to take a structured approach to assess silo safety at customer sites. The checklist has been updated to emphasise that the main safety concern when delivering powders pneumatically is over-pressurisation, which can result in catastrophic failure. Checking that the measures and controls identified in this document are applied, fitted and functioning correctly will help to eliminate or reduce such risks.

The Employee guide on mental health and wellbeing provides information on how to recognise mental health issues and where individuals may seek assistance .

It is one of two guides on Mental Health and Wellbeing produced by the MPA, the second is a guide for managers. Both can be found by clicking on the Health and wellbeing tab on the top menu of Safequarry and then clicking on Mental health and wellbeing.

Free hard copies of the Employee guide are available to MPA members and can be ordered from david.yelland@mineralproducts.org"

Please contact Tony Entwistle for more information about the support MPA provides at tony.entwistle@mineralproducts.org"

MPA has relaunched a health and safety self-audit tool which is free and easy to use.

This is a key part of MPA’s Safer by Association initiative focussed on providing support to SME’s. It is based on a simple scoring system, which can be used by anyone with a good, basic knowledge of health and safety. This audit tool is a development of an earlier MPA system but has been upgraded with improved functionality and updated to reflect current good practice.