Health & Safety: Nurturing a Culture of Excellence

Health and Safety lies at the heart of any manufacturer’s daily operations. Without H&S, the company simply would not run – safety offers no leniency in terms of its priority. In our industry, like any other, it remains imperative to monitor and maintain health and safety procedures in order to ensure a reliable and high-quality service.

At Astley, we pride ourselves on our dedication to health and safety. The safety of our workforce, suppliers and clients is of paramount importance to the business and the protection of our brands.?We decided to sit down with our very own HSQE Manager, Wayne Abbott ?? , who has been with the company now for 3 years.

Being NEBOSH certified, as well as qualified as an internal auditor, Wayne is responsible for protecting the health and safety standards within Astley in accordance with current legislation. We wanted to find out about his role and what it means to him . . .

“I see myself as a bit of a gatekeeper to ensure that the business remains compliant, and products are produced on time and to the highest quality, but ultimately, to ensure that the guys go home safe to their families.”

Health & Safety

Wayne’s role covers the Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental aspects of the company’s operations. Without question, H&S is of utmost importance – with nearly 2 million global work-related deaths each year, it is crucial to prevent injuries in the first instance by maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations in the workplace. ?Whether it is operating heavy machinery, handling materials or working at heights during installations, safety is a top priority.

By actively promoting a culture of safety and enforcing stringent measures, this helps reduce workplace accidents, injuries, and illnesses, safeguarding the well-being of the workforce.

Quality Assurance

Signage products serve as visual representations not only for Astley, but for the brands that we work with, and their quality assurance is of utmost importance. As part of our internal processes, Wayne holds regular audits addressing Health & Safety topics in line with our ISO 9001 quality management system. By maintaining high-quality standards, this enhances customer satisfaction, reduces rework and wastage, and ensures that signage products meet or exceed client expectations.

Environmental

“I’d say a significant part of my role now is to ensure that the jobs we do and the projects that we are involved in have less of an impact on the environment, and to ensure that moving forward, we leave the planet in a better place than what it is at the moment.”

Sustainability and environmental stewardship are a growing focus within the signage industry, with new renewable substrates and cleaner ways of working being introduced to company business models. With Wayne’s aid, we are identifying any opportunities for resource optimization, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.

Offering sustainable signage solutions to our clients and promoting the benefits of introducing more sustainable schemes is just a small part of our partnership.?We are also excited as we continue further on our Net Zero journey which we hope to reach by 2040!

Case study: The Great North Run

A significant H&S project that has recently demonstrated our installation expertise is the install of the Great North Run sign on the distinguished Tyne Bridge in Newcastle.

Our experienced and skilled workforce is challenged both physically and technically each year on this demanding and prestigious project. The bridge itself has one lane closed between 8pm and 6pm in order for us to carry out the fixing work. The installation crews then use high-level access equipment to reach the first fixing points 16.5 metres from road level.

Marking 10 years since Astley began providing the iconic sign, this is a project in which we are so proud to be involved. We can't wait for the race in September!

There is no doubt that HSQE management is crucial for driving change and fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. Investing in our health and safety paves the way for long-term success, customer satisfaction, and a sustainable future in the ever-evolving signage industry.

A huge thank you to Wayne and his amazing efforts for helping make Astley a safe and supportive environment!