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Case Studies » Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems (MABS)

The challenge

The Holbrook Lane site at Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems (MABS) has been established in Coventry (Dunlop previously) since 1919, and provides a rich legacy of mature manufacturing facilities, interspersed with modern additions. MABS undertakes the complete manufacture of wheel braking assemblies for many modern commercial aircraft, including the Airbus A380. The operations range from foundry, treatment, machining, finishing and test and inspection, through to electronic repairs and maintenance. Some 450 employees attend the site, on a variety of shift patterns, and some of the continuous operations are in Hazardous Areas.

The site is undergoing change and some areas are scheduled for redevelopment and re-utilisation, while others are being sold off. It was against this background of change that we were engaged in July 2016 to conduct a review of the site compliance against DSEAR.

The solution provided

The business uses state-of-the-art equipment and skilled personnel to produce a range of precision products. It was found that the current controls in place were to a high standard but a number of further actions could be implemented to enable the company to further improve on their journey to best practice. As the site operations involve the use of a number of highly flammable substances, the DSEAR survey considered these substances with particular attention being paid to personnel interaction and exposure with regards to the manufacturing processes.

The survey involved working closely with the in-house H&S team, maintenance and process departments.

MABS received an updated detailed report, including Hazardous Area Classification tables and drawings, and guidance on the current DSEAR risk for the site. Key areas of focus include ensuring effectiveness of technical measures as well as reinforcing storage, planned maintenance and cleaning regimes.