Please find attached a letter from the Minister effectively confirming our sectors continuing essential role, and consequent guidance in terms of continued operations during the current heightened ‘lockdown’. 

Of particular note are the following highlights:

•  “firms and tradespeople in the construction sector and its supply chain, including merchants, suppliers and product manufacturers, should continue to operate during this national lockdown”
• “Whether delivering on large or small construction sites, and in peoples' homes across the country, in builders' merchants, designing and project managing schemes or producing construction and mineral products, you are making a major contribution to the economic recovery following Covid-19.”

 This guidance is no doubt issued on the assumption that as an industry we continue to operate in a Covid secure way. It remains of vital importance therefore that operators who are continuing to work, ensure that robust steps have been taken to protect their workforce and to continually check that high standards are being maintained. 

Once again we would draw attention to the MPA’s Covid guidance and resources which can be used to assist in the ongoing development and implementation of your own Covid security measures.

Please see attached a summary report from Highways England on a recent vehicle inspection exercise run by Warwickshire Police, covering 173 vehicles.

The report highlights that 35% of the vehicles checked were defective in some way. This included a variety of issues that drivers should have picked up as part of their normal pre-use checks.

The report reinforces the importance of regular and thorough pre-use checks. More information on vehicle checks can be found in the MPA Drivers Handbook which can be downloaded from Safequarry.

MPA has launched a digital guide that provides an overview of Vision Zero for employees and contractors. It includes information on the 6 H&S Values, 'The Fatal 6' and the 6 strategies MPA is using to support its members.  The Guide can be downloaded from the Safequarry website. 

MPQC have developed an elearning package which supports and complements the guidance and other resources produced by MPA on moving machinery and isolation.

In additino to the topics covered in the MPA guidance, MPQC also highlights the emotional impact following incidents, further emphasising the part that our behaviour plays in preventing incidents, and includes an important message to the participants direct from industry leaders.

PASSWORD REQUIRED TO VIEW – PLEASE TYPE IN      CRH-COVID-Awareness

CRH has produced a powerful video that highlights the personal impact that the virus had on two CRH workers in a cement plant. It also features an ICU Nurse who talks about her experience treating patients with COVID-19 and the devastating effect it can have on them. The workers talk about their emotions and personal experience of coping with COVID-19.

The video provides a stark reminder of why we all need to continue being Covid-Safe in our personal and professional lives.

PLEASE WATCH AND SHARE

HSE has published the annual accident and ill-health statistics report for Great Britain for 2019/20.

The annual report includes statistics for work-related ill health, workplace injuries and fatalities. There were 111 fatal injuries at work and the data shows that Falls from Height, Struck by Moving Vehicle, Struck by Moving Object and Contact with Moving Machinery continue to be account for a large proportion of fatal accidents, reiterating the importance of MPA’s continuing focus on ‘The Fatal 6’

Vision Zero was launched at the MPA and British Precast Health and Safety Leadership Conference on the 11th November.

A video of the whole conference or the individual sections can be viewed on the MPA's YouTube channel.

New Deployable MPA Resources to Support Your Initiatives

Workplace Transport and Pedestrian Interface has been identified by MPA's Health & Safety Committee as one of 'The Fatal 6' high consequence hazards that have been the main cause of fatalities and serious injuries and incidents over the last decade.

A range of resources have been launched  including an Employee's booklet, a Manager's handbook together with several supporting posters and stickers. These are all downloadable from the Fatal 2 section of Safequarry

MPA has launched a new set of posters to help remind everyone to Stay COVID-19 Alert.

Digital copies can be downloaded from  the Manager and Employee COVID 19 Guidance Section on Safequarry that can be accessed via the button on the  Home page of Safequarry.  

Free hard copies can be ordered from  david.yelland@mineralproducts.org  by MPA members whilst stocks remains. 

MPA and its members are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all employees. It has received requests from several members about what support is available in this area. Two guides have been developed to address this requirement; one for Employees and one for Managers.

The two Guides can be accessed on the Mental Health and Wellbeing page on Safequarry.

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"