1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152 
r RMC Readymix Eastern & East Anglia is an example
Page 36
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
of an employer which has been proactive in making changes to Its work environment to allow a disabled employee to continue working. Plant operator
had been with the ready-mixed concrete producer for 15 years when he had his left leg amputated after complications with his circulation. Part of his job had been to climb silos at the Great Yarmouth site for maintenance and inspections, using vertical fixed ladders. He also had to drive an HCV mixer in the yard. RMC Readymix replaced vertical ladders on the silos with steps and adapted his truck with a semi-automatic clutch.
The changes cost 18,000 which the company paid with a 90% government grant.
RMC Readymix is in fact trying to phase out vertical ladders in Its business nationwide, replacing them with steps where possible in new plants and major refits. Such initiatives are a small price to pay to reduce accidents and keep loyal members of staff, says Dave Reilly, RMC Readymix Eastern & East Anglia's operations manager.
"John is a very valued and respected member of our staff. His resilience and positive attitude to his disability are an inspiration to us all."
Thompson is highly complimentary of his employer's approach in return. "Whether a person can return to work after a disability depends on their frame of mind," he says, "but also that of their employer."