See our case study on a Health & Safety project for Sodexo

1. © Ashford Tailored Training 2009. All rights reserved.
To find out how Ashford Tailored Training can help your business, visit www.ashfordtraining.co.uk
Case study
Sodexo Health and safety
The challenge
Sodexo’s Corporate Services
segment has 12,000 employees
in environments such as food
service, cleaning, hospitality,
grass cutting, reception services
and security.
Many individuals in these roles
work part-time, face educational
challenges or do not have English
as their first language.
However, the current health and
safety materials were pitched
at too high a level to appeal to
these learners, who needed
to understand the practical
implications of working safely.
At the same time, Sodexo
needed to reduce the number
of accidents that were leading
to high employer and public
liability claims and, consequently,
elevated insurance premiums.
It became clear that 55% of all
accidents were as a result of
slips, trips and falls, so this was
the priority topic. A further 19%
were linked to manual handling,
and 18% to cuts and burns.
Part of the challenge was to find
a fresh, witty, clear, simple and
different way to say many things
to many people.
Key facts
Company
Sodexo UK & Ireland
ATT solution
Health and safety booklets:
Slips, Trips and Falls
Manual Handling
Cuts
Burns
(In production):
Food Safety
Accident Reporting
Sodexo is a world leader in food and facilities management services.
Sodexo UK & Ireland has approximately 55,000 employees operating in
segments including Education, Defence, Healthcare and events (such as
Royal Ascot).
Supplement to Health & Safety Passport: No. 002
Manual Handling
Too
much to
handle?
Get help
with Manual
Handling
Your safety is no accident
Slips,
trips
& falls
Supplement to Health & Safety Passport: No. 001
Slips, Trips & Falls
Your safety is no accident

2. © Ashford Tailored Training 2009. All rights reserved.
To find out how Ashford Tailored Training can help your business, visit www.ashfordtraining.co.uk
The solution
Health and safety is a notoriously
difficult topic to train in new
ways – not so much because
of the content, but because it’s
perceived as dull, or boringly
necessary, or ‘just’ a legal
requirement.
ATT’s solution was to use a
visual, ‘less is more’ approach.
The solution involves a series
of small booklets that are
predominantly picture-driven.
Text is minimal, largely in
bullet points, and supports the
visual messages using simple
and clear language.
•
The books are A5 and limited
to 12 pages so as not to
intimidate learners.
Simple statistical facts about
injuries and their effects
answer the question: ‘Why do
I need this book?’
The learners test their own
understanding by completing
a straightforward ‘spot the
problem’-type activity
Managers check that the
activity has been completed
correctly (and specify the
action taken if not) and both
manager and learner complete
a sign-off sheet.
•
•
•
•
Sodexo Health and safety
The brief
Develop a flexible solution
that:
applies across all Sodexo
segments
is portable, so that it can
be completed by casuals
employed at events such
as the Chelsea Flower
Show
ensures two-way
engagement between
learner and manager and
at the same time tests
learning – all in no more
than 30 minutes
can be delivered by site
managers who do not
have extensive specialist
health and safety
knowledge
can also be offered to
Sodexo’s clients to add
value throughout the
clients’ businesses
allows people to have
some fun while learning
is good value, without
looking cheap.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Covers are
glossy and full
colour
for impact.
Supplement to Health & Safety Passport: No. 004
Cuts
Cutting
edge
Your safety is no accident
How we did it
ATT’s writer produced a draft in
Word using simple, ‘snappy’ bullet
points, and scribbled down a few
ideas for images.
The graphic artist created pencil
sketches that deliver the health
and safety messages with an
appropriate amount of humour.
The writer and graphic artist
made amendments following
feedback from the client.
ATT proofread the text and the
client approved the content, and
the booklets were sent to print.
4 Your safety is no accident
Knives and blades: use
• Always carry
knives by your
side pointing
down• Make sure
knife handles
are clean
and dry
• Concentrate when
you use knives!
• Don’t allow
distractions
• Use safety
blades for
opening
packages
• Are you trained
in the correct
techniques?
• Use the right
knife for the job
• Never hold
goods to cut them
– always use a
chopping board
• Cut away from
your body where
possible
• Remember to
use chopping
boards
• Place damp kitchen
towel or cloth under
board to secure
Inside pages are black and white,
partly for cost reasons and also to
ensure that colour does not distract
from the strong messages.

3. © Ashford Tailored Training 2009. All rights reserved.
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Hillsons Road
Curdridge
Southampton
Hants SO30 2DY
UK
Telephone +44(0)1489 788577
To find out how Ashford Tailored Training can help your business, visit www.ashfordtraining.co.uk
The results
There was a significant drop in
accidents and claims following
the launch of the booklets,
indicating:
safer workplaces
greater awareness of hazards
a financial saving for Sodexo
in claims and other accident
costs.
One of the primary drivers of this
solution was to communicate key
safety messages to staff whose
language and literacy skills (not
to mention the constraints of time
and location) meant that more
conventional delivery formats
weren’t working.
•
•
•
Comments from units in
business, government, public
sector, education, defence and
healthcare strongly illustrate the
success of this approach. The
comments also indicate that
learners’ behaviour and attitudes
have changed.
The approach also contributed to
achieving a reduction in Sodexo’s
insurance premium for the new
financial year (commencing
September 2008).
Sodexo Health and safety
“It involved scenarios which
we are very familiar with and
the text used was simple and
clear. The pictures conveyed
the correct message but with
a touch of humour.”
“Staff are more aware of their
surroundings and act with
more urgency to potential
hazards.”
“We have had no accidents
or near misses since the
training.”
“They liked little books, and
spotting the hazard at back
of book helped me as I have
a member of staff with a
learning disability.”
“Excellent training booklet,
easy to understand and
follow, as not all my staff can
read /write.”
“Made the workplace a safer
place for everybody.”
“Can we have more of these
types of training aids?”
Comments from units in business,
government, public sector,
education, defence
and healthcare
Supplement to Health & Safety Passport: No. 003
Burns and Scalds
Your safety is no accident
Too
hot to
handle
10 Your safety is no accident
Spot the hazards
There are 10 ‘burns’ hazards
in this picture. Clearly circle and number
each hazard before completing the
“Your answers” section
on page 11.
The first example
has been done
for you.