Effective Health and Safety and Management Awareness for the Waste Industries
Training and Education to take great part in waste industries commitment to cleaning up injury KNW are to aid in the Waste industries pledge to reduce the number of workplace accidents in the waste and recycling industry.
The Waste Industry Safety Forum (WISH) has pledged to reduce the number of workplace accidents in the waste and recycling industry by 50% over the next five years. There are currently four times the average of fatal accidents in the sector.
WISH which is made up of representatives from the industry, government and trade unions, has signed a five year charter which contains a commitment to cut accident rates by 10% a year over the next five years. It also pledges to reduce the number of working days lost to occupational illness and injury and promote effective health and safety management awareness.
Chair of WISH and director of Risk Management and Compliance with Cory Environmental, Chris Jones said: “the waste and recycling industry has been a dangerous place to work but by coming together to form this partnership we believe we can make a real difference. We need to continue to work hard on improving the accident rates but we also need the perception and health and safety culture within our workforce.”
Figures show that the injury rate per 100,00 workers reached 2,614 in 2003/04
This has in subsequent years slowly declined. The estimated rate for 2007/08 stands at 2,207 with a total of 4,347 injuries and 196,920 employees.
80% of the injuries are caused by slips, trips and workers being struck by objects. The average injury rate for all industries under RIDDOR is currently 518 per 100,00 workers.
