Hamble Aerostructures slashes flammable waste and cost with SUEZ

Supported by SUEZ, Hamble Aerostructures’ priority was to train all staff on the importance of correct disposal of flammable refuse, a type of hazardous waste. The main goal was to ensure the health and safety of employees and stakeholders through the creation of an education programme, alongside the aim of cutting costs caused by waste contamination and incorrect container usage.

As part of its comprehensive education programme, SUEZ supported Hamble Aerostructures in analysing supply chain wastage and subsequently reduced initial purchase quantities, directly addressing the source of the problem.

 

SUEZ created and implemented a bespoke education programme for Hamble Aerostructures, including Toolbox Talks designed to suit each employee type. Management teams learned about legal compliance for handling flammable waste, smarter disposal methods, cost-saving techniques, and potential risks of improper procedures. Sharing this knowledge with operational staff shifted the focus toward more effective sorting and segregation of flammable waste.

 

Training sessions were held separately for each department per day, three times a week lasting about a month.

Hamble Aerostructures has significantly improved flammable waste segregation on-site post-training. It also cut down weekly use of secure hazardous waste bins (waste safes) from 24 to 12, resulting in substantial cost savings. This, combined with supply chain analysis and initial purchase cuts, led to Hamble Aerostructures reducing costs due to decreased waste production. Operational adjustments, including less transport and adjusted collection schemes, lowered internal costs for SUEZ.

 

The project has also empowered shop floor staff to handle disposal responsibly, enhancing their understanding of associated risks and boosting employee health and safety.

 

SUEZ and Hamble Aerostructures continue to train and empower the site team to ensure that standards are kept and followed. They also promptly address any issues through re-training. Additionally, SUEZ continually explores cost-effective alternatives for flammable waste disposal.