Worcestershire Health and Safety briefings.(20/01/2011)

The two safety briefings carried out this week at Worcester Rugby Club were definitely the best we have ever had and thanks to everyone for their contributions.

We will be following up the very constructive suggestions made about reporting of near misses and looking at how training courses are communicated and arranged.

As promised we will set up a working group to solve the monthly pay problems, the findings will be reported back to everyone by Friday 28th January 2011.

Finally, thanks to Jackie and her team for organising such a successful event.

Worcestershire EFQM result.

We have now received our scored annual EFQM assessment based on the findings from our internal assessors when they were here last November.

EFQM is a method of measuring business excellence and we have achieved a score of 510, which is the highest ever attained by a Ringway term maintenance contract - a fantastic achievement.

Please take the time to read the concluding comments made by the assessors,detailed below.

"Virtually all the key objectives and targets the business has set, have been delivered, the most important being a full contract extension to 2014.

The contract and the relationship with the Client, through the Highways Alliance, has continued to evolve and it is notable both parties have realistic objectives and a common aim, all built on openness and mutual trust.

There are no indications any part of the Division has gone backwards since the last Assessment, and there are impressive external recognitions of achievements notably from The BQF; the CIHT, and the Innovation Awards.

It is evident People have worked very hard in various activities to deliver agreed objectives and understand the link between their contribution and the overall outcomes. It is to be hoped this Assessment can be used to give appropriate thanks and praise for a job well done."

Happy New Year.

Thanks to everyone for their extra efforts during what has been a very difficult December.

We have received numerous compliments for the level of service provided and once again Worcestershire is recognised as delivering a superlative service.

Everyone is important in delivering the service in particular all the drivers, who as ever have been exceptional, and operational staff and County staff who have to carry out their duties in hazardous conditions on untreated roads. However, for once, I would like to single out our staff at the workshops at Warndon who often get forgotten about. During these snowy conditions they have worked into the night to maintain the gritters and repair the snowploughs that inevitably get damaged during snow ploughing, a big thanks for all their efforts.

So Happy New Year and lets look forward to making 2011 another exceptional year.

Christmas Carbon Crackdown Competition.

Please have a go at the competition. There are two categories to enter,

innovative ideas

aesthetic images

Closing date 17th December - good luck.

Christmas Carbon Crackdown.

Today, December 1st 2010 signifies the start of our Christmas Carbon Crackdown, our second such carbon reduction awareness campaign.
Throughout the month we will be running a series of fun initiatives with the very serious message detailing the need for everyone to think about carbon reduction.
Please contribute, please take part in the quizzes, competitions etc.
More details available from Danielle at Lydiate Ash.

Worcestershire Highways EFQM assessment.

As most of you will know last week we had our annual EFQM assessment. The lead assessor Tony Baker asked me to pass on to all, thanks for the courtesy extended to him and to his team at the depots and Highways House.

The feedback I received from Tony was very positive and we expect to receive his report in two weeks. Thanks to everyone for their contributions.

Film stars for the day.

Last week we took part in the production of an industry awareness film to promote excavating safety on site. The film crew visited several locations with the minimum of disruption thanks to the organising by Chris Dovey and Kevin Anderson. The film makers would like to pass on their thanks to everyone that took part.