About

Henderson & Taylor (Public Works) Ltd, H&T has an accredited ISO14001 Environmental Management system.

Our annual Environmental Audit measures both our conformity to our constructive and environmentally protective procedures and also our progress in achieving past environmental targets and setting new ones for the coming year. In such we are always learning and improving work practices to help protect the environment and minimise any negative impact our work may create.

Initially, it was the management which were the driving force behind educating and informing the workforce about how our work effected the environment, both in positive and negative ways. At various ‘tool box’ talks which we hold regularly every week, the environment, our Policy, and what we are trying to achieve is discussed. Very quickly we achieved a positive feedback from the workforce and they became the ones actively seeking out better ways to achieve the same production and quality goals but by slightly changing the process we could minimise or reduce negative environmental effects.

We work hand in hand with our clients to use recycled materials were possible, often providing cost savings and reducing the environmental impact of the work.

Protecting the environment has been an integral part from the beginning. Indeed, in 2002 Mr John Lynch presented a seminar to the Essex Recycling Committee on the benefits of actively promoting recycled aggregates within road/ highway and footpath works. Essex County Council, Southend-on Sea , Thurrock Council, May Guerney and McAlpine were all at the meeting. John Lynch is the Managing Director of H & T; he is a Civil Engineer with a Master’s Degree, a fellow of the Institute of Quarrying and a Fellow of the Institute of Highways and Transportation.

At the time, we operated a quarry and recycling centre in Thurrock. Our goal was to minimise construction arrisings going to landfill, to maximise recycling and to return the recycled aggregates back into the industry. Back then the Construction Industry was slow to recognise the environmental benefits and there was reluctance to accept what was perceived as second hand materials. Indeed, one engineer at the meeting stated, “He didn’t want old stone going into his job”…. to which the answer was “Its all 27 million years old”!

As a company we always go back to basics and ask environmentally protective questions.

• What materials do we need?
• Could we use recycled?
• Is the specification correct or could we propose an alternative?
• Will this save the client expense and the environment the wasted energy and materials?

Our programming and operational management have procedures which, in themselves, are environmentally beneficial. Careful programming minimises waste, encourages maximum efficiency of energy, materials and manpower. We actively promote awareness of environmental negligence, e.g. if a lorry returns to the depot because the gang forgot an item of equipment, the driver is informed that not alone has the gang wasted time, and delayed the job, they have just needlessly burned 10-20liters of fuel.

All gangs and supervisors are encouraged to methodically plan their work to minimise waste.

Equally, there is the obvious financial benefit to increased efficiencies.

Good environmental policies enhance sound financial practice.

Henderson & Taylor are a Corporate Gold Member of the Essex Wildlife Trust. We have joined the Essex Wildlife Trust to help protect the natural environment of Essex.