EPC Groupe › Safety

Our lines of business – explosives, drilling and blasting, energetic chemistry and demolition – are undeniably dangerous activities. We endeavour to limit these risks by making Safety a primary concern.

EPC Groupe is fully committed to a demanding and stringent Safety policy. With the view that all accidents can and must be avoided, and that any hazardous situation for people is unacceptable, we have set ourselves the target of zero accidents and zero injuries.

In addition to the attention we pay to the choice of equipment we use and to the procedures we employ, we work to ensure that our employees are totally involved in this Safety policy.

This approach requires constant attention in the field of our operation and the commitment of all supervisory staff. Consequently, 145 managers have been trained to conduct safety inspections which serve both to validate the appropriateness and application of standards and instructions as well as demonstrating the Group’s commitment at all levels.

In addition, particular effort is devoted to anticipation and prevention: provision of detailed risk assessments, definition of appropriate standards to handle the main risk factors upstream and introduce safer practices.

Interview

Interview with Stéphane Douillard, Demolition Contract Manager

Can you describe your job?

I coordinate and direct operations with the aim of providing a quality service which meets the customer’s expectations at the right time and the right cost.
My work is carried out in several phases:
• preparation (inspection, schedule and budget)
• evaluating the risk of the place of work
• ensuring that the correct equipment and personnel are made available for the whole period of the work
• overseeing the operation with particular emphasis on time deadlines and budgetery consideration
• following the site procedure.

What skills must a Works Manager have?

He must be methodical, observant, organised and thorough in order to solve the technical problems he faces and meet the expectations of customers and site personnel.

What precautions do you have to take?

We must take all precautions essential to ensure the safe operations of the site focussing mainly on 3 key areas of risk: asbestos, working at high and electrical hazard.

What part does safety play in your job?

It plays an absolutely essential part, because we must guarantee the safety of our operation. As a consequence we dedicate a lot of our time in ensuring the safety awareness of our people and the appropriateness of our equipment. In partnership with EPC Groupe’s Safety Division, we regularly conduct “15-minute safety sessions” based on the risks which may be encountered on our sites.