March Winner: Stuart Britton

We are pleased to recognise Stuart Britton, Site Supervisor at INTOHEAT, for his proactive approach to safety when observing unsafe behaviour on site whilst working on the ICU Blinds Project at Southmead Hospital.

With our team currently working within a live ICU environment, it is essential to ensure all workers have exceptional attention to detail, follow strict adherence to protocols, and have a clear understanding of the risks associated with working in sensitive clinical areas. With surrounding spaces fully operational, careful management of dust, access routes, and on-site activities is essential to protect both patients and staff, and the use of zip walls has therefore been installed and carefully sealed.

During his checks on the 25th March, Stuart observed that instead of using the designated egress route through the zip wall, some contractors were squeezing past access equipment to take a shorter, more convenient exit. In doing so, they were knocking against the zip wall, causing it to move and shift the ceiling tiles. With sprinkler heads located in close proximity, any disturbance to the tiles carried a real risk of unintentionally activating the sprinkler system – a potentially serious incident in an ICU environment.

Stuart acted immediately to address the situation, clearly communicating the risks and ensuring correct procedures were followed to prevent pushing against the zip wall structure. Stuart then repositioned the zip wall to improve stability and reduce the likelihood of further movement. After addressing the issue on site, Stuart formally reported the incident and outlined the steps he had taken, confirming that he would continue to monitor the situation.

Stuart’s vigilance, proactive approach, and confidence to challenge unsafe behaviour reflect the safety-first culture we actively promote at INTOHEAT. His actions not only helped prevent a potential incident but also reinforced the critical importance of adhering to agreed procedures, particularly within sensitive clinical environments.

On being presented with his voucher by Gary Ellings, Project Manager, Stuart said: “I really appreciate the recognition, and I’m glad to see that proactive reporting through INTOHEAT’s QR code system is being valued. It shows that when we take the time to flag observations, it genuinely makes a difference. I want to encourage everyone to keep using the system whenever they spot something – big or small. It’s the simplest way we can look out for each other and maintain a safe working environment for everyone”.

Well done Stuart – and thank you for your commitment to keeping our sites safe.

April Winner: Pippa Winter-Alsop

We’re delighted to recognise Pippa Winter-Alsop, our Projects Administrator and dedicated fire marshal at INTOHEAT’s head office, as the deserving winner for April. Pippa’s proactive approach and sharp attention to detail recently helped us identify and resolve several important safety issues – including two that could potentially have posed serious risks during an emergency evacuation.

During her weekly fire alarm test on 24th April, Pippa took the time to walk the building thoroughly and spotted a number of concerns that required immediate attention. Rather than waiting for the next reporting cycle, she acted straightaway, raising the issues, contacting the right people and ensuring our fire alarm company attended promptly to put things right.

Pippa’s quick thinking and commitment to safety ensure that colleagues can feel confident that, should an emergency occur, they’ll be able to exit the building safely and efficiently. Pippa’s actions reflect the very best of our safety culture – proactive, responsible and always looking out for others.

On receiving her award from Gemma Birt, our Business Manager, Pippa said: “I’m pleased to have won the QR code voucher. It shows how important it is to report safety concerns, especially when something as critical as a fire alarm isn’t working effectively”

Congratulations Pippa, and thank you for helping to keep us all safe.