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Health & safety

In the depots

There were 23 reportable health & safety incidents in our 529 depots during 2012 (2011: 31) and we are pleased to report that the overall accident trend over the last five years continues downward.

To ensure we maintain a health & safety culture in the Trade division, we continue to run a number of courses including:

• Our defensive driving course which runs for those staff across the depot network who are required to drive as part of their day-to-day role: this year a total of 321 drivers completed this course.
• Management of safety in a depot, where managers continue to be trained every three years. During 2012, 239 managers and 166 assistant managers completed this course.

In our manufacturing, warehouse and distribution sites

All three sites achieved the prestigious "International Safety Award" given by the British Safety Council. For our Howden site it is the fourth consecutive year of entry and the second time it has achieved a "Distinction". In their first year of entry, our Runcorn and Northampton sites have both been awarded "Distinctions".

Additionally, all three sites retained their OHSAS BS 18001 certification and maintained "5-Star" status in the British Safety Council 5-Star audit, achieving over 95% compliance.

During 2012, there were seven reportable health & safety incidents (2011: 16). This continues a downward trend in reportable accidents which have declined by 89% over the past five years. Average time lost per incident has fallen by 79% over the same five year period.

Across the Group there were no prosecutions, prohibitions or improvement notices by either the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) or the Environment Agency (EA).