Safety and health week to focus on dangerous substances

HSE press release E017:03 - 12 February 2003

This year's European Week for Safety and Health, starting on 13 October 2003, will focus on dangerous substances in the workplace.

Organised in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), this annual initiative has become the largest workplace health and safety event in Europe. Thousands of businesses use the week to look at ways of making their working environment a safer and healthier place.

The campaign for this year's week gets underway in May when HSE will launch a free action pack of material to help participants with their plans. Details of how to obtain a pack will be announced in the spring.

HSE will be encouraging organisations to look at ways of preventing ill health and reducing adverse effects in the workplace including cancers, respiratory diseases and skin diseases.

John Thompson, head of HSE's chemicals policy division, said: "We are delighted that dangerous substances will be the theme for European Week 2003. The majority of the 1.3 million companies covered by specific chemical legislation are small and medium sized enterprises. Many of these do not think of themselves as using chemicals. They see them simply as branded products - but they can also be hazardous chemicals. Others only partially understand what they need to do to protect their employees and other people from risks from the use of chemicals.

"Our best estimates suggest that each year about 6,000 people die from cancer due to occupational causes; and up to 7,000 new cases of asthma are occupationally caused or have work as a significant contributing factor. In addition, 66,000 people suffer from new or existing skin disease caused by work - around two thirds have dermatitis or eczema.

"All this is preventable. Employers, workers and stakeholders can use the week to start to make an impact."

Hundreds of organisations provided feedback to HSE about their campaigns for last year's event, which concentrated on workplace stress. From these, 166 have been chosen to receive regional awards at lunchtime presentations due to take place around the UK during February, and 27 out of those will be chosen to receive a prestigious national award in March at Cardiff City Hall.

Notes to editors

1. More than 185,000 action packs were requested in the build-up to last year's week, the theme which was workplace stress. All those returning feedback to HSE receive a personalised certificate.

2. The European Week for Safety and Health has taken place six times - in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002. HSE has organised seven health and safety weeks, including these six European weeks.

3. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work promotes the week throughout Europe and chooses its theme. Member states are free to choose any week in October.

4. To promote the week in the UK, HSE has formed a European Group whose members include: TUC, CBI, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), BackCare, British Safety Council, Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland, Health Education Board for Scotland, National Assembly for Wales, Departments of Health, Education and Skills, Work and Pensions, European Week 2001, membership was extended to include the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland, an Environmental Health Officer representing local authorities and representatives of the banking and insurance sectors.

5. An action pack comprising a newsletter, posters, stickers, and information sheets will be available from HSE in May 2003. Details to be announced.

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