Inspections aim to improve safety on Hartlepool industrial estates

Date:

5 March 2010

Release No:

NE/090/10

Hartlepool Council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have joined forces in a bid to improve health and safety on local industrial estates.

Local authority and HSE inspectors will be working together as they target industrial estates on the issue of health and safety - raising awareness, promoting sensible management and improving standards in those businesses visited. Enforcement will be taken where standards fail to meet legal requirements.

The team will be carrying out a series of inspections at sites throughout Hartlepool over a two-week period starting on Monday (8 March).

The inspections will focus on several key topics including how risks relating to asbestos on the premises are being managed; how workplace transport is controlled and safety when working at height.

Inspectors are also keen to encourage and find out how employers are promoting health and safety through active leadership from management and involving staff in achieving ideal working conditions.

HSE Inspector Jonathan Wills said:

"Asbestos-related diseases are the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK. Those that are responsible for the maintenance and repair of premises have a legal duty to manage asbestos and we'll be keen to see how the issue is being managed on local sites during our inspections."

Jane Kett, Principal Environmental Health Officer at Hartlepool Borough Council, said:

"Accidents involving transport at work are the second largest cause of workplace fatalities. In 2007/08 a total of 65 workers died and nearly 6,000 were injured across the UK as a result of being struck by a vehicle, falling from a vehicle, being hit by materials falling from a vehicle, being hit against a vehicle while travelling in it or as a result of a vehicle collapsing or overturning.

"We'll be looking to ensure that companies are taking the necessary steps to identify and minimise the risks to help ensure a safer workplace for all."

HSE's Jonathan Wills added:

"During our inspections we'll also be identifying where ladders are being used and ensuring they're safe. Where 'dodgy' ladders are identified we will take appropriate enforcement action, which may include prohibiting their use. In 2008/09 a total of 35 workers died and more than 4,000 employees suffered major injuries as a result of a fall from height in workplaces across the UK.

"We're also keen to see how local employers are promoting health and safety through active leadership from managers and by involving staff. This is something we're keen to encourage as evidence shows that businesses with good workforce involvement perform better in terms of health and safety measures and also generally enjoy better productivity and higher levels of workforce motivation."

More details of how to manage asbestos and other workplace health and safety issues can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk .

This month also sees the latest phase of HSE's 'Shattered Lives' campaign, aimed at reducing slips, trips and falls in the workplace. The hard hitting campaign involves raising awareness of the impact of slips, trips and falls in the workplace and directs employers and employees to the new Shattered Lives website - www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives - for practical advice and guidance.

HSE and local authority inspectors both enforce health and safety law in workplaces. Broadly, local authority inspectors have responsibility for those providing leisure services or retail while HSE inspectors enforce appropriate health and safety legislation in other areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, waste and recycling and major hazard industries.

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