Event aims to raise accident awareness among manufacturers

Later this month the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) will host a conference on health and safety in the manufacturing industry to help employers better understand their responsibilities when it comes to looking after their staff.

The event, ‘Made in the UK - safe steps to success’, comes at an optimum time, with the latest figures from the Markit/CIPS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) showing that jobs growth in the sector is currently at its fastest rate since May 2011 following an eleventh consecutive month of expansion.

With so many new workers returning to the industry, it is vitally important that employers understand the legal ramifications of workplace accidents in order to encourage them to employ, rather than see it as a barrier to growth.

While the number of accidents in manufacturing has lessened in recent years, there remains a genuine risk that statistics will become inflated over the coming years as the sector gets back on track.

Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that manufacturing accounts for almost one in five notifiable workplace fatalities and reported injuries.

While the industry is made up of a diverse number of sectors, employers often face the same health and safety challenges, resulting in 3.1 million working days being lost as a result of accidents in 2012.

There are signs of improvement, with 20 fatal injuries recorded in 2012/13, compared to an annual average of 28 in the previous five years, with similar falls in non-fatal accidents and ill health.

One area which has received a significant amount of press in recent years is the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) within the manufacturing industry.

HAVS affects the blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and joints, of the hand, wrist, and arm. Its best known effect is vibration-induced white finger (VWF).

Figures for 2012 show that reported cases of VWF in 2012 fell to 125 from an average of 193 for the previous five years.

Despite the downward trend, the risks remain high. Figures show that manufacturing accounts for about 10% of all British workers, but for 18% of all reported injuries to employees.

The ‘Made in the UK’ event, which takes place at Thinktank, in Birmingham, on March 18, will address a number of issues associated with good health and safety practice, while highlighting a number of case studies across a wide range of manufacturing businesses, each shedding light on the right approaches and techniques needed to avoid accidents.

Nick Ratty, head of manufacturing at the Health and Safety Executive, Neil Shotton, managing director of Business Safety Systems Ltd and Helen Devery (partner at Berrymans Lace Mawer Solicitors) will be chairing a number of discussions, covering issues such as best practice and the value of employer-paid accident insurance plans.

Ahead of the event, Rob Burgon, RoSPA’s workplace safety manager, said: “Anyone with a responsibility for workplace and safety in the manufacturing sector should attend this conference which will refresh people’s knowledge and understanding of legal obligations in order to protect their companies and workforces.

“A vibrant health and safety culture can help to drive other areas of business success, resulting in a more efficient and effective workforce, bringing with it greater employment engagement and creativity. Work related deaths shatter families and have massive consequences for businesses, communities and societies as a whole, so it is clear to see why health and safety makes good business sense.”

To find out more and to book a place visit: http://www.rospa.com/events/manufacturing

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