Sharon’s employment at Siddall & Hilton Products commenced back in 2003, as a machine operator in the wire products department making bucket handles out of galvanised wire.
This role involved a permanent shift starting at 2pm and finishing at 10pm with a team of eight staff. Over the next fifteen years, Sharon gained further manufacturing experience, making wire coat hangers, wire ties, ‘spider’ springs for seat pads, tension springs and double cone springs, whilst also being involved in supporting management with general health & safety-related work.
This department was permanently closed in December 2018. Following on from this, Sharon was appointed to the newly-created position of Health & Safety Co-ordinator in January 2019 and successfully completed a NEBOSH qualification later that year.
A typical day in the life of a Health & Safety officer involves:
o Regular site walkabouts to check for hazards and non-compliance with PPE.
o Check with staff for any concerns
o Attend the daily shop floor briefing to deliver the latest statistics and highlight hazards
o Conducting site visitor, contractor and new employee health & safety inductions
o Carrying out and documenting risk assessments
o Fire alarm testing and conducting periodic fire drills
o Working with machine operators to continuously develop safe working practices
o Keeping up to date with the latest legislative requirements and best practices
The provision of training is a key part of this role and covers mental health awareness, mental health first aid, fire safety awareness, general first aid and defibrillator operation and shopfloor safety procedures. Other responsibilities are health & safety related procurement including PPE and hand sanitiser products, general workwear and employee’s refresher courses such as forklift truck driving.
The role also involves leading regular meetings to ensure the company not only complies with all statutory regulations but also to promote the importance of health & safety. These include the Health and Safety Committee and the Employee Welfare Committee. One initiative to develop a stronger health & safety culture’ started in 2020 with CPR training for all employees, followed by the purchase of a public access community defibrillator.
The Company has also undertaken a ‘Walkathon’ in support of the British Heart Foundation. This encouraged staff to have conversations that would not ordinarily happen and supported wellbeing at work. Sharon comments that “With an interest in keeping people safe it’s great being part of Siddall & Hilton Products and working to build a stronger health & safety culture for now and the future as part of the Company’s World Class journey.”
Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd is a long-established manufacturer of welded wire mesh for perimeter fencing, industrial and construction applications.
A day in the life of a Health & Safety Co-ordinator
