18 March 2004 - HSC Has High Hopes For Recent Strategic Plan
The Health & Safety Commission have selected eight priority programmes covering hazards or sectors where major improvements are necessary if their targets are to be met. In selecting these priorities the aim is to tackle those hazards and industries where large numbers are employed, the incidence rate of injuries or ill health is high and where they feel they have the scope to achieve their goals. They will focus on five hazard areas and three sectors:
Hazard Areas:
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Falls from height
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Workplace transport
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Musculoskeletal disorders
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Stress
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Slips and trips
Sectors:
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Agriculture
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Construction
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Health services
They also intend to engage more with the Local Authorities to target problems in the sector which they cover by:
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Reducing the number of working days lost per 100 000 workers from work related injury and ill-health by 30% by 2010
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Reducing the incidence rate of fatal and major injury incidents by 10% by 2010
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Reducing the incidence rate of cases of work related ill health by 20% by 2010
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Achieving half the improvements under each target This Year.
The recent blitz on construction sites in London and the South East we have seen some dramatic attempts at achieving these goals:
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In the second week of its Healthy Handling initiative, the HSE issued 66 enforcement notices
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Over 350 sites were inspected with officials focusing upon manual handling, the use of wet cement and hand held vibrating tools
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Work was prohibited on 40 sites, while a number of firms also agreed to halt construction until improvements were made.
The HSE explained that many construction companies needed to improve their assessment procedures and management protocols governing health risks.
