Making sense of site safety

Matrix Networks has launched a new campaign to help make site safety information accessible and understandable for its employees and those who work with them.

Called ‘10 Golden Rules’, Matrix Networks has developed briefing materials and new eye-catching site posters featuring 10 bespoke icons depicting its ‘Golden Rules’ for working safely on site. The icons have been designed to also be used across everyday site materials such as mugs, folders and pens, so that they become easily-recognisable and memorable.

By taking this approach, Matrix Networks wants to help its employees working on sites nationwide, as well as its subcontractors and clients, to be aware of the Company’s commitment to maintaining safe work environments. Its aim is to ensure no one is being put at any unnecessary risk as they go about their work.

Matrix Networks’ 10 Golden Rules are:

  1. Always follow our Safe Systems of Work protocol
  2. Make sure your site is kept secure at all times
  3. No drugs or alcohol are allowed on site
  4. Keep your working areas clean and tidy
  5. Be responsible for ensuring your plant and equipment are safe to use
  6. Look after your vehicle and drive safely
  7. Protect the environment and manage waste responsibly
  8. Report any issues as soon as you can
  9. Always wear the right PPE
  10. Remember mobile phones are not to be used on site, unless it’s an emergency.

Davina Reilly, Matrix Networks’ SHEQ manager, said: “Construction sites are hazardous and unpredictable environments. While it’s important for site workers to keep up to date with the latest health and safety legislation, we’ve identified these 10 fundamental safety rules which help to ensure that key safety requirements are always front of mind.

“Our 10 Golden Rules have been developed by talking to those who are working on site every day – understanding what they feel is important to keep themselves and their colleagues safe. We then combined this research with the requirements we know are essential for compliance to our accredited bodies, before arriving our set of Golden Rules.”

Matrix Networks’ SHEQ team will monitor awareness levels of the 10 Golden Rules over the coming months to see how they’re being received and adopted by site workers – as well as listening to ideas around further ways to improve safety and communication with its site workers nationwide.

Matrix Networks is accredited under Lloyd’s Register WIRS, GIRS and NERS schemes as well as CHAS and Altius.

Matrix Networks’ connection fuels new food recycling plant

Independent utility infrastructure provider Matrix Networks, has completed a project for the Greater London Authority (GLA) which will see food waste turned into renewable energy by ReFood Ltd in Dagenham, east London.

Contracted to design, install and commission a system which would bring essential gas supplies into the new recycling plant, Matrix Networks completed the connection at the end of 2017.

Their work has helped enable ReFood to convert food waste into renewable energy and nutrient-rich bio-fertiliser and, in doing so, divert up to a staggering 60,000 tonnes per year of London’s food waste away from landfill.

Matrix Networks was commissioned by the GLA’s infrastructure project manager, Turner & Townsend, to provide a gas supply connection for SARIA / ReFood Ltd, Europe’s leading processor and recycler of animal by-products and waste food. The utility specialist started by laying and connecting the initial mains gas pipes for Cadent, the distribution network operator, then in 2016 was contracted to return to the project as the Principal Contractor, responsible for the completion of the gas connection, coordinating with other contractors working on the site.

Located within the Mayor of London’s London Sustainable Industries Park, ReFood Dagenham is London’s largest anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting plant using entirely food waste. As a cutting-edge facility, regular VIP visits were scheduled during its construction – something which Matrix Networks accommodated without interfering with the programme of works taking place across the development site.

Colin Lymer, Matrix Networks Operations Manager – South, said: “This project was significant for all involved. It was our first contract for the Mayor’s property development company which is creating London’s first clean-tech business park on land acquired and retained by the Mayor. From our initial works through to completion we assigned an experienced team to the project and, as Principal Contractor in 2017, we took our responsibilities extremely seriously, respecting the investment made in this directly delivered public venture.”

ReFood turns waste food into a bio-fertiliser and into a bio-gas (methane) by using an advanced AD system. During this process large amounts of heat and biogas are generated. The biogas is exported at the right calorific content into the National Grid’s Intermediate Pressure (IP) gas network nearby, whilst the remaining liquids are turned into a bio-fertiliser for agricultural use.

Bill Harris, Turner & Townsend Associate Director, added: “Matrix Networks was recommended to us as a capable provider in the utility infrastructure sector. This was a high-profile project, and I commend the team for delivering the gas connection with the minimum of fuss and with the utmost professionalism. Any questions or issues we had were dealt with straightaway and I looking forward to working with them again, possibly on a later phase of the commercial park, in the near future.”

Matrix Networks is an industrial and commercial multi-utility independent connections provider (ICP), servicing UK developers, main contractors, and consultants.

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