A strong safety culture
We believe that the focus on safety is essential to delivering a high-performing, open and constructive safety culture.
Continuous improvement
The Group is committed to continuous improvement in health and safety performance, which is a standing item at every Board meeting. The Group actively promotes a strong safety culture, striving to instil the same safe working principles in every employee wherever they are, and in whichever Group business they work.
Our health and safety organisational framework clearly defines those responsible and accountable for health and safety across our businesses. The Board is committed to maintaining a strong safety culture throughout the Group. Health and safety performance is reviewed by the Board at each scheduled Board meeting. The Executive Committee (Excom) has responsibility and authority to implement ongoing improvements to safety processes and systems, delegating responsibility to local subsidiary management where required. The Group requires that all employees take responsibility for their own safety and that they are mindful of the safety of those around them, thereby creating collective responsibility to ensure we meet our high standards for health and safety and that we continually improve them.
Local management teams are accountable for monitoring the health and safety methodology set by the Group, with each manager having received appropriate briefings on these requirements, and ensuring compliance with local regulatory requirements, culture and specific business needs. Group oversight is provided in the form of regular site visits by the Group Health, Safety and Environmental Manager, where processes are reviewed and training is provided.
The table below records a summary of the Group’s health and safety statistics for the year. In FY 2024, we are pleased to report that there were no reportable incidents or lost time incidents. The number of minor injuries, most caused by slips or falls, increased, primarily due to an increasing focus on reporting, as well as the growth in headcount of the Group. Minor injuries were treated by our locally trained first aiders, administering treatment for minor cuts or abrasions. All minor incidents or ‘near misses’ are reviewed regularly and where trends are identified, further control measures are introduced to reduce risks and prevent recurrence. The increase in near miss reporting represents good progress as an organisation willing to learn and improve on a continuous basis.
Employee safety
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Average employees | 512 | 473 |
| Reportable incidents | — | 1 |
| Lost time incidents | — | 2* |
| Near misses | 51 | 26 |
| Minor injury, first aid cases (FAC) | 26 | 16 |
| Injury rate per 100 employees | 5.1 | 3.8 |
| Injury rate per 100,000 hours worked | 3.1 | 2.2 |
* Includes RIDDOR reportable incident.
Lost time incidents are defined as an injury or illness sustained on the job by an employee that results in the loss of productive work time resulting in them being unable to perform regular job duties, taking time off for recovery or being assigned modified duties whilst in recovery. The minor injury rate is currently measured against first aid or medical treatment cases that did not result in a reportable incident or lost time injury. The increase in minor injuries resulted in a rise in the overall injury rate per 100 employees from 3.8 to 5.1. This is mainly due to regular and enhanced reporting of minor incidents, which has been encouraged throughout the organisation to prevent recurrence.