Printing

Example of Programme undertaken
Factory situation: At its West Midlands facility, our client operates a highly automated printing and packaging works at the one site, on two sides of a delivery road, with inherent, potential danger to employees from traffic using the access way.

A key feature of the printing process is that the chemicals used are highly flammable. The Company has in place very sophisticated fire prevention and control measures to minimise risk from this major threat. The workforce is highly educated, well able to cope with the technical demands of the work and the strict health and safety requirements of their work.

Considerable time pressures exist as weekly deadlines are to be met for the printing, packaging and distribution of the weekend newspaper colour supplements: this imposes restrictions for PILOT's Trainer/Assessors to access operators for NVQ work during the build-up to the weekend rush. Regular access to learners is also difficult to organise due to complex and frequently changing shift patterns operating at the facility.

Programme Details
As highlighted above, production processes are under continual time pressures, to meet the weekend schedules for despatch. To avoid hold-ups in production, machine minders are constantly concerned to keep the line running, even when items occasionally do not stack properly or fall off of line. Removing items while the line continues operating avoids the loss of production time but risks injury to the operator: it is not sanctioned by the management.

Objective
To increase awareness of personal responsibilities under the law and to establish a positive culture towards health and safety throughout the facility.

Preparation
A comprehensive workbook was prepared, covering all aspects of health and safety in the work environment. It included a series of tasks designed to help the learner to remember the important feature of each section.

Course Delivery
Morning and afternoon workshops were held over a period of three months at the main offices. The management groups involved on the programme were taken first, so that they would understand and appreciate what was to be asked of their workforce. All aspects of health and safety were reviewed and the various required tasks explained. Follow-up workshops were then held for the participants, with the work they had completed being reviewed. Every participant, including the Plant Managing Director, was then confronted with the challenge - what will they do personally to improve safety. Their responses to the challenge were revealing and positive!

Outcomes
Every employee took part and successfully completed their tasks. The whole workforce is now fully conversant with their individual and shared responsibilities for health and safety at their workplace and working to those requirements.

Following the health and safety training, Pilot has been delivering Level 2 NVQs to those employees whose work and existing qualifications make them eligible to undertake a Level 2 course.

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