insideKENT Magazine Issue 93 - December 2019 | Page 186

BUSINESS KENT CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES EXCEL H & K Safety Services’ Annual Awards Seminar Recognises Kent Companies’ Outstanding Efforts in Protecting Their Workforce LIKE IT OR LOATHE IT, PROPERLY INTEGRATED HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT WILL HELP PREVENT ILL-HEALTH AND ACCIDENTS THAT CAUSE MUCH DISTRESS TO SO MANY FAMILIES. During November, H & K Safety Services (HKSS) held their exclusive Annual Awards Seminar in recognition of the efforts made by local companies and individuals who strive to protect their workers. In addition to a hearty breakfast at the Mercure Hotel, Maidstone, Abi Coleman of ALC Courses and Gill Monk of All Health Matters addressed the assembly on mental health and health surveillance respectively; topical subjects supporting the initiatives of the Health and Safety Executive and general well-being. HKSS firmly believe their health and safety awards system is unique. Through their highly trained, professional and experienced advisors they carry out a site inspection service, during which all companies are measured from commencement to completion using a high number of key performance indicators to evaluate performance across a wide range of activities. To reduce the potential for subjectivity in approach, advisors are rotated periodically. Winners of their awards prove good practice consistently throughout the life of each project and to achieve the ultimate status of ‘Principal Contractor’ or ‘Contractor of the Year’, multiple projects are monitored and measured; with averages used to remove discrepancies and compared to determine positions. 186 Based upon approximately 1500 inspections per year across more than 100 sites, the award winners face tough competition to be successful. By the very narrowest of margins, the Principal Contractor of the Year Shield was awarded to W. W. Martin collected by Trevor Codd; with Jenner Contractors taking the Silver Award and Abbott Construction the Bronze. A special award was made to Amalgamated Lifts for innovation delivered by one of their managers, Gary Vick; a caring gentleman who had the potentially life-saving idea of changing contacts within stop switches so even when damaged they fail safe. Unfortunately, Gary passed away before seeing his idea come to fruition and John Brand stood in to collect the well-deserved award. Danielle Hague collected the Contractor of the Year Shield on behalf of Hague Construction who were followed very closely by WWM Civils (Silver) with the Bronze Award going to Blue Chyp. While the above awards were cumulative, individual sites were merited through three different categories (small, medium and large projects) for both new build and refurbishment classifications. Finally, HKSS would like to thank publicly, all who supported the event and especially for their generous contributions in raising £500 in a raffle supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation (ECHO). Ash Contracting, DCB (Kent), Jenner Contractors, Pentland Homes and W. W. Martin Limited all received project awards. Furthermore, not wishing to lose all of the good work that is achieved outside of site performance, an Outstanding Achievement award was presented to Pat Convey of Esquire Limited and a Community Award was scooped-up by Lee Venables of the Bilby Group for charity work which saw over £45,000 collected. H & K Safety Services Office 6 Town Hall Buildings, 31 St. Mildred’s Road, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, CT8 8RE [email protected] 01843 834608 www.hksafetyservices.co.uk