Safety in a nutshell: Practical roof safety across WDP
Safety isn’t a box we tick. It’s something we build together, every day, at every site.
At WDP, our HSES team is driving Safety in a nutshell: our international campaign built around clear, practical safety guidance. No long theories, just the essentials that help people work safely. Like a nutshell, it’s about protection. And like a squirrel collecting nuts, it’s about rolling out safety actions across our warehouses, step by step.
A first key project within this campaign is “Safety on the Roof”, which is focused on reducing risks when accessing and working on roofs.
Step 1 — Risk assessment (RIE): understanding the roof risks
We start by mapping the risks of accessing and working on roofs through a structured Risk Inventory & Evaluation (RIE), also referred to as our roof safety scan.
To do this consistently across countries, we work with specialized external partners:
- SAFE (France)
- ETS (Romania)
- Worksafe Nederland (The Netherlands)
- Eurosafe (Germany)
- Cofapro (Belgium & Luxembourg)
These assessments help us identify hazards, evaluate risks correctly, and define the right technical, organizational and preventive measures. They also support our compliance with European legal requirements.
Step 2 — Site-specific improvement plans
For each site, we translate the RIE findings into a site-specific improvement plan with clear actions.
This approach allows us to:
- Prioritize the most urgent situations
- Tackle high-risk findings quickly when needed
- Create a clear roadmap for structural improvements
Step 3 — Implementing improvements based on urgency
Safety is also about action on the ground.
We start improvements based on urgency, with priority for sites where roof access is more frequent, for example where solar panels are installed or planned.
As collective preventive measures, this can include:
- Installing guardrails
- Securing roof openings and domes (e.g., guardrails or clear hazard signage)
- Updating technical specifications based on RIE learnings
Step by step, roof by roof, we’re making our working environments safer everywhere.
Step 4 — Toolbox “Safety on the roof” (training & instructions)
Clear instructions save lives. That’s why we developed a toolbox on working at height, including a mandatory instruction video on:
“Safe access to and working on roofs”
The video was created with DENKIE, a specialist in creative safety communication. It is available in six languages and is mandatory for all contractors who need roof access.
To ensure consistent follow-up, completion is recorded in a database so we know who has completed the instruction.
Our working-at-height program across Europe
Working at height is one of the most serious safety risks in our industry. Large flat roofs can be high-risk working environments due to:
- Working at height
- Open edges and roof openings
- Changing weather conditions
- Temporary activities such as inspections, maintenance or interventions
That’s why a targeted working-at-height risk assessment is essential.
Safety in a Nutshell: clear, consistent, international
Safety in a Nutshell is designed to work across borders, because WDP operates internationally, and our safety standards must be consistent everywhere.
It’s also a team effort, bringing together many parties: HSES, property and project teams, procurement, IT, and external safety experts.
Want to learn more?
If you’re a contractor, partner or customer and would like to learn more about our roof safety approach, please reach out via your WDP contact person or via e‑mail safety@wdp.eu.
Because safety belongs where it should be: at the top of every agenda.