Section 1 – Introduction
CEMEX are a leading supplier of construction materials. With extensive experience in supplying material and construction solutions Cemex serves a diverse range of projects and schemes. Cemex operates both on large scale framework contracts and major projects whilst also providing a provision of smaller quantities for one off projects and maintenance. CEMEX UK operates out of over 400 locations and has an own fleet of over 200 bulk aggregate tippers and cement tankers, working alongside a large haulier supplier base and Ready Mix IHC fleet.
Carl Milton, UK Cement Logistics manager, based in Rugby, explains how CEMEX continues to improve work-related road risk by launching an HGV Rollover prevention campaign to raise awareness of a cross industry issue.
Section 2 – How did you hear about FORS, what prompted the company to join and how long have you been a member?
CEMEX was one of the founder members and supporters of FORS. We realised it would bring standardised best practice across the industry and benefit Cemex by becoming our adopted scheme for employing subcontractors.
Section 3 – What was your experience of the initial FORS Bronze audit?
We passed our bronze assessment first time round, which was encouraging acknowledgement that a high standard of compliance was in place and recognition that we had managing work related road risk embedded in our organisation. FORS standards have progressed to push operators to continually improve standards and CEMEX have continued to pass all re-assessments following enrolment onto the scheme and have continued to support and promote FORS in the industry.
Section 4 – What was your main reason(s) for you progressing (either from Bronze to Silver and then Silver to Gold or straight from Bronze to Gold)?
Our progression straight to Gold highlights our passion for being leaders in improving work related road risk and road safety for all vulnerable road users. We believe that for us to cascade best practice to our contractors and colleagues in other parts of our business and across the CEMEX operations outside of the UK we need to have exemplary standards in our operation.
One of the steps for CEMEX was to roll out FORS membership to its large sub-contractor base of over 400 hauliers. Since January 2018 FORS, accreditation has been a mandatory requirement for all our registered haulier sub-contractors. The independent auditing process covers 100% of our contract haulage supplier base and is an efficient and cost-effective way of ensuring contractor compliance which is industry recognised. This gives us confidence that FORS standards are being adopted company, cross-industry, and UK wide.
‘FORS bronze has become a minimum requirement to become a CEMEX registered contract haulier” David Hart – CEMEX Supply Chain Director UK & France’
‘We have continued to adopt FORS best practices and embed them into our business’ Carl Milton – CEMEX Regional Logistics manager’
Section 6 – What improvements have you made?
In 2020 we developed and deployed HGV rollover prevention programme to raise driver awareness of this industry wide road safety problem and give key guidance on how to prevent.
This campaign was rolled out across the whole CEMEX UK business for Ready mix, Cement, Aggregates and Building Products. The programme was cascaded to across our driver, work force, management teams and our haulier subcontractor companies and drivers. This material was shared with Industry bodies such as the Mineral Products Association, Industry competitor companies and was translated into several languages and disseminated across CEMEX operations worldwide. We also contributed to the Society of Engineers updated rollover best practise guide, providing educational material across the UK haulage industry.
Link to the campaign training film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zeGPaLj-jk
Section 7 – What are your plans?
We have several road safety initiatives in progress such as our virtual meeting haulier safety days, driver road safety week and continuing with our pedestrian safety campaign and our cross-industry HGV rollover prevention campaign. We plan to continue to support these and further initiatives to continue to reduce of work-related road risk.
Section 8 – What evidence do you have of positively promoting FORS at requirement G7?
We have positively promoted FORS at haulier safety days and guided circa 400+ hauliers through the process of successful accreditation. Cemex consistently promotes FORS in our road safety campaign materials, industry awards and media activity.
Section 9 –What FORS Gold accreditation means for your organisation/to you?
As a FORS Gold operator, we have adopted FORS as our benchmark for all road movements of our products and the ethos of continual review and improvement in the goal of zero harm for our operations.
We have rolled out this ethos to the contractors in our business and promoted best practice not only in the UK but to our wider business across the globe.
Section 10 – (Optional) Please provide your social media contact details so we can follow your organisation
CEMEX@CEMEX_UK
*Please note: All published FORS Gold case studies have been submitted by the accredited company named above and transcribed verbatim