HSE WM375/06 4 December 2007

Health and Safety Executive on workplace transport in the Ricoh arena

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in conjunction with the Coventry and Warwickshire Safety Group and Local Authorities, is holding two seminars on Workplace Transport in the Ricoh Arena, Coventry in an effort to reduce the number of accidents involving forklift trucks, cranes, vans and lorries.

Employers have a legal duty to safeguard their employees and members of the public who might be affected by the work they are carrying out. Often, the precautions they need to take are basic, straightforward health and safety practices so the HSE is eager to impart information to assist companies and individuals to comply with ‘Health and Safety at Work’ requirements by advising on good practice and safety procedures.

Sarah Wilson, HSE Awareness Officer, said:

“The Coventry and Warwickshire Safety Group is a monthly forum of local companies and individuals who share best practice in health & safety terms.

"Such is the interest in not only safety aspects of workplace transport but also slip, trips & falls and safe manual handling to prevent musculoskeletal disorders that our first joint event on 5th December was over-subscribed. We arranged an additional event on 13th December and this is now also fully booked with a further 140 registered but any interested local individuals or companies, who have missed out, can glean all the details through the Coventry & Warwickshire Safety Group via Michael.lewis35@btinternet.com .

"Some of the subjects covered at the event include working at height, manual handling, slips and trips as these are some of the most frequently occurring incidents. HSE gives guidance to those who attend the seminars, alternatively interested parties can access the HSE website: www.hse.gov.uk/."

Notes to editors

Each of the events runs from 0930-1300hrs with speakers from HSE (Health & Safety Executive), HSL (Health & Safety Laboratory), Coventry & Warwickshire Safety Group and (depending on venue) from Warburtons and the NEC (National Exhibition Centre)
The Coventry & Warwickshire Safety Group is a successful local ‘self-help’ forum that is part of  a national network of such safety groups organised under the auspices of RoSPA.  Alan Spiers of the Baxi Group Ltd is current chair of the C&W safety group.

You are invited to send a reporter and/or photographer to either event – a photo opportunity should exist at around 11.20am – please make prior arrangements for interviews and/or photography with Ray Prichard @ GNN on 0121 352 5508.

Public enquiries:

Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500, www.hse.gov.uk/contact
HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

Press enquiries (Journalists only):

Ray Prichard 0121 352 5508

HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk/

Issued on behalf of the HSE by Government News Network, Tel: 0121 352 5508.