SEMINAR OFFERS NEW IDEAS FOR CUTTING EDGE BUSINESSES

HSE press release: E191:03 - 26 September 2003

Managers often think safety is expensive - until there's an accident! Then they realise just how costly it really can be - employees off work, loss of production, claims for compensation and sometimes prosecution - tying up months of senior management time.

A free seminar at The Institution of Mechanical Engineers on Wednesday 8 October is aimed to equip boardroom managers and owners with the skills to take their businesses to the next level of cutting edge excellence by understanding the issues behind HSE statistics and the latest innovative equipment which can challenge a foreseeable accident happening.

The seminar is a joint initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

HSE's Richard Wilson said: "Safety is still too often viewed as an unproductive cost and a barrier to good productivity, but the truth is that senior managers can make decisions which will save the future of their business.

"We can promise a one day agenda which will get the highest flying executive thinking different. The first seminar in the summer at Haydock Park was very well received by managers of smaller businesses who admit they are so busy looking at the sales figures that they miss the obvious factors that have a huge impact on their survival".

Taking part will be Kerry Ross from Warburtons of Bolton, who will describe how reversing aids for delivery vehicles have cut accidents, and David Allan of MacDonald Air Tools who will explain how to manage risks from noise and vibration. Richard Lawson from the DTI will explain how companies can obtain grants for specific projects.

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