The story of Gratnells in Portugal begins with a large-scale challenge: the transition of factory facilities from the UK to Portugal. At this time of profound transformation — with spaces, teams, and procedures to be built — the company was seeking a partner to ensure strict compliance with national occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation.
Furthermore, from day one, there was a need to build a safety culture that was robust and structurally committed to the well-being of all workers. It was at this foundational moment that the fruitful partnership with Centralmed emerged.
What is Gratnells and what was its challenge?
Founded in the UK, and with a presence in the United States and Portugal, Gratnells is dedicated to plastic transformation and specializes in the production of office furniture. With about 60 employees, the company recently decided to establish new facilities in Portugal, initiating a strategic transition in its manufacturing operation.
This process involved much more than a mere geographical change. As Augusta Guedes, Integrated Systems and Quality Assurance Manager, and Nicole Rebelo, Human Resources Manager, recall:
Necessitávamos de uma mais-valia a nível de serviços de segurança e saúde no trabalho, que nos auxiliasse na transição das fábricas do Reino Unido para Portugal. Estamos a falar de novas instalações, novos trabalhadores e novas leis para cumprir. (...) Sentimos, por isso, uma grande dificuldade na adaptação e na compatibilização das políticas britânicas com as portuguesas, o que dificultou o acompanhamento mais próximo dos trabalhadores.
Indeed, at this implementation stage, Gratnells did not have its own safety policies — only some procedures inherited from the former tenants of the facilities. Additionally, it faced an extra challenge: adapting to a new legal and cultural framework, ensuring worker protection from the start of operations.