A VIGILANT engineer at a Derbyshire pre-cast concrete products manufacturer has been rewarded for helping his employer reduce accidents and promote health and safety in the workplace.
Maintenance engineer Gary Hewitt spotted what he thought were potential hazards at pre-cast concrete drainage products manufacturer Stanton Bonna, at Stanton-by-Dale, near Ilkeston, and informed bosses.
The "near-miss hazard alert" scheme, which has been running for eight years, encourages its 132 employees to write on cards details of any near misses – incidents that have the potential to result in injury – or hazard alerts such as unsafe equipment, substances or procedures.
This year the scheme produced a record 728 entries.
Gary won the first prize from a selection of a flat-screen television, a week's paid holiday, a laptop computer or tablet, or weekend for two. He also won third prize of a mobile phone.
For every entry submitted the firm donates £1 to Bennerley Fields Specialist Speech and Language College in Cotmanhay.