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3 December 2004 - HSE New Guidance
Publication for Storage and Handling of Steel
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A new publication by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in
consultation with the National Association of Steel Stockholders (NASS)
and Wolverhampton City Council is aimed at providing guidance within
the production, storage, transport and steel industries for the
provision of safer health and safety standards, by exposing the
causes of injuries and fatalities within the industry.
The guidance focuses on the management of risks, within the
following areas:
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slips and trips.
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falls from height.
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struck or crushed by moving stock.
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struck or crushed by heavy lifting attachments.
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struck by moving vehicles.
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cut by sharp edges.
Metal stock storage and handling, as seen within the HSEs'
provisional figures, shows that 284 injuries occurred within this
area for the 2003/04 period, with musculoskeletal injuries also
being highlighted strongly.
The guidance within the publication explains areas such as the
following:
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legal requirements.
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common hazards.
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how to assess and manage the risks from them.
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the provision of training and information for employees.
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the inspection and maintenance of storage and handling equipment.
HSE's Manufacturing Sector commented:
"This guidance promotes sensible health and safety, which is
about managing risks, not eliminating them. This is a good example
of HSE's commitment to being a good partner - working with
Wolverhampton City Council as lead authority and NASS to improve
safety in a sector of industry with an unacceptable high level of
injuries and fatalities."
Chief Environmental Services Officer at Wolverhampton City Council
also commented:
"Publishing this guidance is a real achievement and shows what
can be accomplished from partnership working. It has been eagerly
awaited and I am in no doubt that it will help to improve health and
safety standards. It will also act as an invaluable tool for
enforcing authorities and assist in the consistency of enforcement,
one of the original aims of the Steel Stockholding Lead Authority
Partnership. Wolverhampton City Council is proud to have been
involved in the project."
Also commenting on the publication was the National Association of
Steel Stockholders:
"Working in partnership with the HSE and Local Authority has
enabled us to produce clear and achievable safety standards for our
industry, which should help all the businesses within our sector,
both large and small. We have worked together to make this guidance
easy to understand, thereby assisting all of us to improve our
health and safety standards."
Safety in the storage and handling of steel and other
metal stock publication can be purchased from
HSE Books priced £14.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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