Member Article

A decade of safety and efficiency at Wavin's Sheffield plant

Global pipe manufacturer, Wavin, is celebrating 10 years of no lost-time incidents at its Hazlehead manufacturing site in Sheffield. This is a huge achievement for all 100 employees working at the clay drainage factory which makes the majority of products for Wavin’s renowned Hepworth Clay brand.

Any onsite situation that results in an injury causing time off from work, classes as a lost-time incident (LTI), and the term is widely used as a benchmark for health and safety success across the manufacturing industry.

Ten years without any LTIs at the Hazlehead site is an incredible milestone, demonstrating the high health and safety standards at play across the busy facility. As the site manufactures clay piping for below-ground drainage, the products themselves can be very heavy once made, and require firing in a high-temperature kiln, which means stringent safety measures must be continually upheld and scrutinised.

To support its employees, Wavin has invested in better technology and health and safety education, creating a safety-first working culture over the last ten years. From robotic manufacturing tools, to ongoing improvements in the general structural health of the factory, the company has spent millions of pounds on the site, so it can maximise both safety and efficiency.

Mike Ward, Managing Director of Wavin UK, said: “It’s fantastic to see how our Hazlehead site has been able to build a safety-first culture. At Wavin, we pride ourselves on our health and safety practices, while also making sure that our high-quality clay products get to the customers who need them. Every single member of the Hazlehead team has played a part in this achievement, and should be immensely proud.”

The occasion was marked with official celebration ceremonies at the factory on July 1st and 2nd, in which all Hazlehead employees were presented with a gift to mark the occasion.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Wavin .