HSE urges manufacturers to "take advantage"

E071:08 22 December 2008

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is urging manufacturing business leaders to take advantage of a free guide that could bring significant benefits to them. The guidance, entitled, 'Leading health and safety at work', is issued jointly by the Institute of Directors and HSE.

The call comes as research revealed that less than a quarter (24%) of manufacturing firm leaders surveyed knew of the publication.

Geoff Cox, Head of HSE's Manufacturing Sector, said, "We know that these are trying times for manufacturers , their suppliers and customers. Whilst it's pleasing to see almost 25% of businesses know about this I would urge other industry leaders to take advantage of this free publication that is written by business people for business people."

Notes to editors

1. 'Leading health and safety at work', ING417, is available free of charge at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg417.pdf
2. 'Leading health and safety at work' was launched in October 2007. The guidance is written 'by directors for directors' and offers them straightforward practical advice on how to; Plan, Deliver, Monitor and Review, health and safety in the workplace. Production of the guidance was overseen by an IoD led steering group with nominees from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Local Government Association (LGA), National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), NHS Confederation, Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Warwick Law School, University of Warwick
3. To establish awareness of the guidance amongst directors and equivalents of organisations with 5 or more employees in the public, private and third sectors, HSE commissioned Databuild to survey directors of 1600 organisations. 267 of these were involved in manufacturers. Telephone surveys were undertaken during 2008 July 28 - September 9.

Press enquiries

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