Coles Group – critical risk review

For efficiency and reasons of commercial risk, Coles’ supply chain operations are highly diversified. They include both internal and third-party warehousing and transport carriers, with safety risk managed differently as a result.

At the time of our involvement, Coles’ supply chain operations had been through significant disruption, with high turnover and limited high-level oversight or knowledge of safety within the operational management team. There was a highly reactive rather than proactive safety culture, and the senior leadership had recognised the need for advice in this area.

• Evaluate how critical safety risks were being managed across the supply chain network.

Verus’s strong understanding of supply chain safety within warehousing and transport – and how safety risks can be effectively managed in such environments in cost-effective ways – enabled us to offer significant value through the review. The review’s outcomes then formed the basis for short and medium-term strategic plans to improve safety.

Our independent review identified areas of critical need and enabled Coles to develop plans to deliver on improvements. Injuries statistics reduced significantly thereafter, with a 50% reduction in recordable injuries and 20% in lost-time injuries.