Health and Safety: UNICEM mobilizes the materials sector on September 25

By PR influence Published on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11:30

UNICEM and its professional unions UNPG and SNBPE are organizing a national day dedicated to health and safety

Photo credits : UNICEM

Summary for decision-makers

This summary presents a flagship initiative within the mineral materials industry, focusing on occupational safety and health. The National Day, organized by UNICEM, UNPG, and SNBPE, will bring together experts and company representatives to discuss crucial topics such as shared vigilance, coactivity, and the prevention of risks related to dust and chemicals. This event illustrates the industry's collective commitment to improving its safety practices.

The program will feature testimonials and collaborative projects aimed at embodying a culture of safety within organizations. Best practice guides will be presented, supported by awareness-raising and training activities. The platform will provide free access to useful resources for all stakeholders in the sector.

Frequently Asked Questions for Decision Makers

What are the main themes addressed during the National Day?The themes include shared vigilance, co-activity, prevention of transport risks, as well as dust and chemical risk management.

What is the objective of the presented good practice guides?The guides aim to raise the level of requirement in terms of safety and health at work through the evaluation and improvement of members' practices.

How is the concrete industry preparing to improve safety? The industry is developing awareness-raising and training initiatives and is working with partners to prevent specific risks related to its activities, particularly those related to transport and handling.

UNICEM, in partnership with its professional unions UNPG and SNBPE, is organizing a National Health and Safety Day on September 25 in Paris. The event will bring together more than 100 participants—companies, experts, and partners—to discuss major prevention issues in the aggregates and ready-mix concrete sectors.

UNICEM and its professional unions UNPG and SNBPE are organizing a national day dedicated to health and safety

On the agenda: sharing experiences, innovations and best practices around essential themes: shared vigilance, coactivity, prevention of transport-related risks, management of dust and chemical risks.
Experts from industry, prevention and research will enrich the discussions, alongside representatives from professional organizations and companies recognized for their safety culture.

The morning will focus on managing external companies, shared vigilance, and developing a true safety culture, with a presentation from the Michelin Group. The afternoon will focus on transport safety and preventing risks related to dust and chemicals.

« Occupational health and safety are at the heart of our federation's priorities. This National Day illustrates the collective commitment of an entire sector to continually improve our practices and protect those who interact with our activities every day. It is with this in mind that the profession implemented safety passports in 2020 and 2021 for employees and subcontractors of SNBPE and UNPG members. " underlines Alain Plantier, president of UNICEM.

« The SNBPE, the SNPB (National Union of Concrete Pumping), the SNROC (National Union of Ornamental Rock and Construction Industries) and the UNPG run health and safety committees aimed at supporting members in their prevention efforts.. " he adds.

« In our activities, the co-activity and diversity of the professions involved make shared vigilance essential. Prevention is everyone's business, and it is by working collectively that we will succeed in sustainably raising our standards. The result of collective work undertaken since 2016, 23 best practice guides have already been produced on topics directly proposed by our members. " says Bruno Huvelin, president of the UNPG health and safety committee.

« The concrete industry faces specific safety challenges, particularly in the transportation and handling of materials. This is why we are developing awareness-raising and training initiatives and innovating to guarantee a high level of safety at all stages of production and delivery,” says Franck Raggi, president of the SNBPE and SNPB health and safety committee, adding, “The SNPB has also developed an interactive tool dedicated to site safety, intended for pumping technicians, and in 2023 entered into a national partnership with RTE, Enedis and the OPPBTP. Rolled out at the regional level, this partnership aims to prevent electrical risks during concrete pumping operations.” »

By organizing this National Day, UNICEM, UNPG and SNBPE reaffirm the central place of health and safety in their commitments and in the future of the mineral materials sector.
To find out more, visit http://plateforme-unpg.fr/, a platform which brings together all the tools created by the UNPG and made freely accessible to meet the needs of the greatest number.