Innovative packaging supplier, Wipak UK, welcomed several Mid Wales-based businesses to its site in Welshpool last month to mark the UN’s ‘World Day for Safety and Health at Work’.

Coordinated in conjunction with the Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, the event saw the Powys Business of the Year winner exchange health and safety best practice with visitors and explain how it developed a culture of safety across its site in recent years.

“The focus on health and safety improvements is our number one priority, with the ultimate aim of achieving ‘zero harm’,” explained Managing Director at Wipak UK, Andrew Newbold.

“Over recent years our safety record has improved significantly, resulting in an 80% reduction of safety incidents, and a renewed focus in the last two years thanks to a Group-wide training program for all employees called ‘I can make a difference’ which is focussing on improving the safety behaviour of all employees.

“It was great to have an open discussion with such a wide variety of industry representatives about our experiences, showcase our processes during a factory tour, and hear about other local health and safety successes.”

The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work promotes the prevention of occupational accidents globally. It is an awareness-raising campaign intended to focus international attention on how promoting and creating a health and safety culture can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.

Ceri Stephens, Group Manager at the Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, said:

“Everyone has the right to go to work and come home safe. It was very interesting to see and hear how Wipak UK keeps its own staff safe, with some very interactive discussions taking place during the site visit and plenty of takeaways for the attendees.”