We Press Pause on Production - Safety Starts With Us

We believe every member of staff deserves the tools, knowledge and processes to work safely and return home to their families at the end of the day.

To reinforce this commitment, every year we pause production at our factories to hold our annual Knauf UK & Ireland Safety Day.

Safety isn’t just something we think about just one day a year, it’s embedded in everything we do every single day.

Our annual Safety Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate our safety record, and explore new ways to improve and develop our locations as safe places to work.

A Day Dedicated to Safety and Wellbeing

The day began with an inspiring address from Ian Stokes, Knauf UK & Ireland Managing Director, who spoke to employees at both sites. Ian reinforced the importance of safety and reminded us all of our individual responsibility to call out unsafe behaviours to protect ourselves and our colleagues.

Following this, our occupational health provider, Flex Health, led a thought-provoking session on men’s physical and mental health.

With prostate cancer being the most common cancer among men in the UK, Flex Health offered male staff members a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) finger prick blood test to help detect potential issues early. Raising awareness and promoting early detection is crucial, and this initiative was a powerful reminder that looking after our health is just as important as staying safe on the job.

Interactive Safety Sessions

Despite the summer heat, enthusiasm remained high as employees participated in a variety of engaging and practical safety sessions, including:

Risk Assessment and Hazard Spotting

Our Point of Work Risk Assessment (POWRA) sessions emphasised the importance of checking working conditions before starting a task, ensuring potential hazards are identified and equipment is safe to use.

Combustible Dust

A live demonstration showcased the explosive properties of certain dusts on-site, highlighting the critical need for control measures.

Lock Out, Tag Out, Test Out (LOTOTO)

A hands-on session reminded employees how to safely isolate plant equipment for maintenance and the importance of permit control.

Safety Dialogue Refresher

A refresher on conducting safety dialogues and why they are essential for fostering a culture of accountability.

Spill Response

Training on how to handle spillages, including the correct cleaning and disposal of equipment, ensuring safe and effective responses.

LOBO Scaffold Training

Practical guidance on safely erecting, dismantling and using the LOBO Scaffold.

Celebrating Milestones and Community Spirit

The result of our continuous efforts from everyone at Knauf, we are proud to celebrate our Gold RoSPA award in 2025, following two consecutive Silver RoSPA awards before that.

Further, we are celebrating 750 days without a lost time accident at Sittingbourne and a year at Immingham.

These milestones are a testament to the dedication of our teams and the effectiveness of our safety-first culture. However, we know there is always room to improve, and we remain committed to minimising risks and holding ourselves accountable.

Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

At Knauf, safety is non-negotiable.

Each of us has the power to influence a culture of safety by identifying and addressing unsafe behaviours and conditions promptly.

By working together, we ensure that everyone returns home safely at the end of their shift.

Our annual Safety Day was once again a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility and commitment to building safely. Together, we continue to raise standards and prioritise the wellbeing and safety of our people.