HSE ISSUES NEW GUIDANCE FOR THE BAKERY INDUSTRY

HSE press release E151:03 - 4 August 2003

A baker's dozen: Thirteen essentials for health and safety in bakeries' from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides practical and legal guidance for management and supervisory staff in bakeries as well as those with health and safety interests in bakeries.

The HSE has identified certain priority topics requiring special attention as they lead to the highest rates of injury and ill health in bakery workers: -

1. Manual handling/musculoskeletal disorders
2. Slips and trips
3. Occupational asthma
4. Workplace transport
5. Falls from height
6. Noise

In addition to these topics the 106 page A4 book also contains useful guidance on other hazards found in bakeries, such as bakery machinery, confined spaces, fire and explosion, electrical safety and risks in cleaning.

As well as providing practical solutions to health and safety problems, such as examples of local exhaust ventilation equipment suitable for controlling dust at bakery processes, the guidance also covers the relevant legal requirements and standards that apply; for example, it lists the harmonised European standards that apply to different bakery machines and summarises the main requirements.

Finally, the book gives advice on arrangements for accidents and emergencies, covering accident/ill health reporting requirements under the Reporting of Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, First Aid and Emergency procedures.

Richard Morgan from HSE's Agriculture and Food Sector said "This guidance will assist the bakery industry in managing health and safety priorities. It draws together into one book a lot of useful information from previous HSE publications and from practical industry experience.

"The book has been written in liaison with the Health and Safety in Bakeries Liaison Committee, which is a tripartite HSE/industry/ and trade union committee that identifies priorities and produces guidance for the bakery industry."

23/02/12 - This guidance has been withdrawn.

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