Case Study

Hunter to Oversee the Construction of a New Automated Storage and Retrieval System in Belgium.

Hunter Safety Group was appointed by an International Drinks Manufacturer as the Site Safety Manager for a major construction project in Ghent, Belgium. The project involved building a 10,000-pallet Automatic Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), featuring four cranes operating across 14 levels of racking. Designed to process 140 pallets per hour for both inbound and outbound flows, the system also integrated a rail-guided monorail network and 16 gravity racking lanes to optimize pallet handling and movement.

One of the defining achievements of Project Matrix was the zero reportable accident rate. This was made possible by granting the Safety Manager the right level of authority to take ownership of responsibilities and ensure safety standards were fully enforced. The relationship between the Distribution Team Leaders, the Project Team, and contractors was collaborative and professional, and the site infrastructure—such as site offices, contractor villages, and central operating hubs—provided a solid foundation for coordination. Meetings were conducted respectfully, on time, and in a structured manner, with weekly sessions used to capture key project statistics, address recurring themes, and openly discuss observations. This structure, alongside the early engagement of Hunter Safety, ensured that the expected standards were embedded from the outset, creating a strong health and safety culture across contractors and client staff.

Role

Hunter Safety was appointed to manage and coordinate all health and safety arrangements on behalf of the client, providing strategic leadership and assurance across the project. Acting as a key interface between the client, contractors, and site management, Hunter chaired and minuted formal health and safety meetings, while ensuring all arrangements were fully compliant with relevant legislation and industry standards.

Our role included overseeing contractor competency through rigorous pre-qualification and assessment processes, reviewing and approving all Risk Assessments and Method Statements, and implementing a Permit to Work system to control high-risk activities.

The Health and Safety Management System was regularly monitored and reviewed, with structured audits and inspections carried out to maintain the highest standards across site operations.

Hunter also delivered comprehensive site-specific inductions in English and provided ongoing education and advice to contractors, ensuring safety standards were consistently upheld. Site productivity, including working hours, was closely monitored to support efficiency while safeguarding workforce welfare. In parallel, the project Safety Plan and Temporary Works arrangements were periodically reviewed and refined to address evolving risks.

Throughout the project, Hunter produced routine health and safety reports, offering the client and project team clear visibility of progress, risks, and compliance. By combining proactive risk management with continuous advisory support, Hunter Safety ensured the project was delivered in a safe, compliant, and efficient manner, aligned fully with the client's operational objectives.

This project stands as a benchmark for how early engagement, strong collaboration, and robust health and safety management can deliver complex construction works without compromise. By embedding the right culture from the outset and maintaining a structured, transparent approach throughout, Hunter Safety Group helped our client achieve a zero-accident project while meeting programme and operational goals. The success of this scheme not only reflects the professionalism of all parties involved but also demonstrates the value of appointing a dedicated Site Safety Manager with the authority and expertise to drive standards. Hunter Safety is proud to have played a key role in delivering a world-class facility that is both safe and future-ready.