ICL Teesdock, UK is celebrating five years of safe working

The ICL Teesdock team in UK is celebrating five years without a lost time accident at the busy port where ICL products are loaded and unloaded for shipping to fertilizer manufacturers and farmers around the world.

Back in 2008, the management of the fifty-strong workforce at ICL Teesdock, at the heart of one of the busiest ports in Europe, had concerns about safety at work.

“We were not happy with the health and safety performance here at Teesdock”, remembers Mark Wilson, ICL Teesdock UK Logistics and Supply Chain Manager. “So, as a team, we decided to change the culture.”

Changing to a positive health and safety culture in the workplace

After careful scrutiny of the problems and priorities, ICL Teesdock decided on a strategy for change. The plans – which involved every member of the workforce – included investing in infrastructure (conveyors, surfaces, marked walkways and machinery), developing a framework for safe working and establishing rules and procedures for every task on site. Safe working became, and has remained, top priority.

Practicalities and procedures to promote safety at work

Watch the team at work at ICL Teesdock, and a number of practices are evident. Each worker assesses and minimizes the risks before each task. Their records are logged on to the management records at the end of every shift. Contractors and their equipment must have clearance to work, and there is control and supervision for every ‘Permit to Work’.

Productivity bonus from safe working

Implementation of these systems, and the team spirit to improve safety, have been consistent and not had a detrimental impact on productivity. “Productivity has increased while the number of accidents has fallen.”, reports Mark Wilson. “We’ve changed the safety culture at Teesdock. As a whole team we are very proud of what we have achieved”.

Other team members are equally proud of their new safety culture. According to Control Room Manager Mike Allison the change has permeated every part of the business. “I think the achievement of five years without a lost time accident is absolutely fantastic. The change from management and the change in the whole culture has been massive.” In the fabrication shop, where equipment is made or repaired, pride in the team result is just as strong. Welder Sean Batty describes how everyone at work at ICL Teesdock wants to go home safe at the end of every working day. “There’s no taking risks. It’s a good culture: good for the management and good for the workers. It’s brilliant.”