BOAL Extrusion UK is strengthening its approach to Health & Safety as part of its wider commitment to responsible manufacturing, operational continuity and long-term supply chain reliability.
In a manufacturing environment, Health & Safety is never only an internal matter. It affects people first, but its impact reaches further. A safe, well-managed workplace supports continuity, quality, delivery reliability and the confidence that customers, suppliers, contractors and partners place in a business.
The continued relevance of Health & Safety is clear across UK industry. Recent figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that work-related ill health, workplace injury and lost working days continue to have a significant human and economic impact. For manufacturers working with machinery, materials, lifting equipment, heat, noise, PPE requirements and complex production processes, Health & Safety remains part of everyday operational reality.
BOAL Extrusion UK sees Health & Safety as more than compliance. It is part of good employment practice, good leadership and good partnership.
The appointment of Shane Craven as Health & Safety Manager in May marks the next step in developing this approach. Shanebrings experience from several sectors, including freight forwarding, waste management and previous Health & Safety management roles, supported by his NEBOSH qualifications.
BOAL already has a solid Health & Safety foundation in place, including risk assessments, procedures, policies and Standard Operating Procedures. Shane’s focus is to build on that foundation by making systems more consistent, more visible and more closely connected to the people who work with them every day.
“You get more buy-in if you discuss your ideas rather than force them,” says Shane Craven, Health & Safety Manager at BOAL Extrusion UK. “There are some things that have to be done, but there is no reason why people cannot be part of that. If employees benefit from the Health & Safety structure, then the company will, because employees are your foundation.”
BOAL’s approach includes inspections, PPE checks, training reviews, toolbox talks, action trackers, project documentation and regular follow-up. Near-miss reporting also plays an important role. “People make mistakes. The important thing is to understand why and to help them make the right choice next time,” says Shane Craven. “The aim is not to create blame, but to identify where BOAL, as an employer, can continue to improve to prevent incidents from happening.”
The same principle applies to PPE and safe working behaviour. When something is not right, the first question is not simply who is at fault, but why it happened. Has the right PPE been issued? Is it suitable for the task? Is more training needed? Is the protection appropriate for the working environment or season? This approach turns Health & Safety from a policing exercise into a learning process.
For customers, this matters because well-managed Health & Safety contributes directly to continuity and reliability. Fewer incidents, clearer procedures, stronger training and visible accountability help reduce operational disruption. In a production environment, that supports planning, capacity, lead times and delivery performance.
For suppliers and contractors, it creates clarity and confidence. They know they are working with a company that expects safe, professional behaviour on site and applies the same seriousness to its own operations.
“Responsible manufacturing is not only measured by the quality of the end product,” says Emma Swann, Managing Director. “It is also measured by the care, discipline and accountability behind every step of the process. Health & Safety protects people, strengthens operations and gives customers and partners confidence in the way we work.”
BOAL Extrusion UK has also been awarded Environmental & Social Value Certification by Made in Britain. While ESV is not a Health & Safety certification, it reflects BOAL’s broader commitment to responsible business practice, sustainability and social value across its operations.
Health & Safety is not a barrier to manufacturing performance. For BOAL Extrusion UK, it is one of the foundations beneath it.
