Viridor Avonmouth Resource Recovery Centre Reaches Half A Million Safe Working Hours And Awarded Considerate Constructors Accolade

UK recycling and renewable energy company Viridor and its construction partners, CNIM S.A. and Clugston Construction Ltd, have celebrated achieving half a million man hours at the Avonmouth Centre – equivalent to over 57 years – without time lost to accident or injury and has been recognised for working to a very high level of consideration towards the public, the workforce and the environment.

The Taunton-based company has been working with its main contractors, CNIM Clugston (Avonmouth) Limited, Owner’s Engineer Fichtner plus local contractors including PMS, GAP Hire Solutions, Hanson, B&A, Channel Plant and King Lifting on the construction of the Avonmouth centre which will use environmentally sustainable technology to divert c. 320,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste away from landfill.

To mark the 500,000 safe hours achievement and demonstrate its commitment to the community in which it is working, Viridor, CNIM, Clugston and Fichtner have donated £2,500 to Bristol North West Foodbank to support their work in providing emergency food, fuel help and advice to those referred to them in crisis. The Foodbank has assisted 26,000 people over the last 7 ½ years.

The charity was selected by the 480 staff working at Avonmouth. Emma Murray, manager of Bristol North West Foodbank was presented with a cheque by Viridor and their construction partners at a business breakfast meeting held on site organised by SevernNet.

Considerate

In addition to the safe working milestone, CNIM Clugston / Avonmouth RRC have also been awarded 42 out of 50 in the Considerate Constructors Scheme, following a recent visit from scheme monitors who assessed the site and offices, against five code headings – appearance, community, environment, safety and workforce. Figures published by the scheme in June reveal that the national average as just 36.11.

The Considerate Constructors Scheme a non-profit-making, independent organisation founded in 1997 by the construction industry, designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements and improve its image. Construction sites, companies and suppliers voluntarily register with the Scheme and agree to abide by the Code of Considerate Practice.

Viridor Managing Director Phil Piddington said:

“Viridor is committed to continually improving health and safety standards and performance. Construction at our Avonmouth facility is making great strides and achieving half a million hours worked without time lost to accident or injury and is testament to our shared focus on safety.

“I’m delighted that we’re marking this occasion by donating £2,500 to this important local charity, Bristol North West Foodbank. Our Avonmouth facility will form part of the community, employing local people and providing a vital service – we want to be a good neighbour and will continue to support local organisations in the years to come.”

Viridor’s Avonmouth Project Manager, Helen Moon added:

“It’s great to see so many different trades working close together in a safe environment. The attitude at Avonmouth is a real partnership working from everyone. These two milestones help to remind us all that everyone has a role to play in their own and their colleagues health and safety, plus that we need to keep the impact of the work we are doing at the front of minds and how that may affect others.”

Emma Murray, Manager of Bristol North West Foodbank commented:

“The support we have received from Viridor and their construction partners, CNIM, Clugston and Fichtner is hugely appreciated. This donation of £2,500 will go towards helping us to set up our new Social Justice Hub at St. Andrew’s Church Hall in Avonmouth where we will be able to offer further support to clients and be able to host a bigger warehouse and office space.”

Construction on site at Avonmouth started in summer 2017 and, when operational, the facility will be able to convert circa 320,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste which would otherwise go to landfill each year into renewable energy.

When operational Viridor will generate around 34MW of low carbon energy, enough electrical power to supply around 44,000 homes, the equivalent of a population larger than the city of Bath.

A third of the available capacity of this new facility will be being taken up from Somerset County Council by diverting waste which is currently transported to three landfill sites.

Construction works on site are progressing well, with steelwork to support the boiler now in place at a height of 35 metres. Over the summer the process equipment started to arrive and is now being lifted into place.

For more information about working with the Avonmouth RRC construction project, please contact Avonmouthrrc@newgatecomms.com or visit: viridor.co.uk/our-developments/avonmouth-rrc