Arco Named as Most Influential Team in Health & Safety

SHP have announced Arco as the winners of their award for the Most Influential Team in Health & Safety.

The award recognises the team that has worked together most effectively to improve occupational health, safety and/or workplace wellbeing within the industry, society or in health & safety profession more widely.

Arco was chosen as the winner from a list of six finalists for SHP's Most Influential Team Award, by the SHP Awards judging panel.

Arco's NDC2 became operational on 10 February 2020. On 11 March the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic and a week later the UK went into lockdown. PPE was in short supply and while the government looked to solve the stock shortage - Arco, with critical worker status, got to work fast, ensuring the National Distribution Centre was fully operational and, importantly, that it was COVID-secure.

Arco chartered 10 aircraft and 35 special airfreight shipments full of vital equipment and their operations team went from a 24/5 working pattern to 24/7 in less than two days to manage increased customer demand. The team successfully distributed 300 pallets a day with 8,000 parcels, distributing over 140m face masks, 18m gloves, over 0.5m coveralls and 0.5m hygiene products.

The judges also called out the leading work which Arco's Quality Assurance team undertake at their independently accredited laboratory, with the team identifying non-compliant PPE and educating other bodies. The panel noted this is something that Arco have been relentless about even pre-pandemic. Arco experts sit on a number of key committees including the BSI British Standards, CEN European Standards Committee and the ISO International Standards Organisation who work tirelessly to uphold the standards of the profession and raise awareness around the dangers of fake PPE, including encouraging those in need of critical supplies to ask for the correct supporting documentation and providing advice on how to do so.

Arco continues to play a leading role advising and supporting public bodies, as well as customers in critical industries, on the testing and supply of quality PPE. Arco has recently submitted a 10-point Position Paper following its own experiences during the COVID-19 crisis and the lessons learned, focussing on the need for better coordination and engagement with external stakeholders, including suppliers and those procuring equipment across the UK safety industry.

Alongside its commitment to supply customers with PPE over the course of the pandemic, the judging panel picked up how Arco has donated pallets of hygiene products to a local charity working with residents, community groups and local businesses to alleviate food and fuel poverty, particularly prevalent over the last 6 months. The company also recently announced a £250,000 donation to the National Emergencies Trust to help support future national disasters, as well as 42 grants of £1,000 donated to local charities nominated by Arco colleagues.

Neil Griffiths, Divisional Director of Logistics said:

"We are delighted to be honoured with SHP's award for the Most Influential Team in Health and Safety. The response from our logistics team throughout the pandemic has been tremendous. They have worked tirelessly, working additional shifts, weekends and bank holidays with COVID-secure measures to ensure we were able to protect our customers and front-line responders. This award and the recognition is truly a testament to their dedication to keep people safe.bThank you to SHP, the judges, HSE and IATP for your comments and for the acknowledgement of Arco's work."

David Evison, Managing Director said:

"Receiving this award is a great honour for Arco, and recognises both the expertise and the contribution that we have made throughout the pandemic. Our expertise is evidenced throughout every stage of the PPE supply chain and I've been impressed by the way the whole company has worked together. Colleagues have gone the extra mile to keep people safe and support local communities. Our thanks to SHP for endorsing our work to keep people safe, guide the Health and Safety industry and support the communities which we operate in."