Health and safety chair sees hi-tech techniques in action at Jaguar Land Rover in Birmingham

Date:

7 March 2012

Release No:

EM/315/12

HSE Chair Judith Hackitt was shown how innovative technology and a strong safety culture go hand in hand at Jaguar Land Rover's Castle Bromwich facility last week.

Judith Hackitt with Jaguar Land Rover staff

During the walking tour, Judith got to see the state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques involved in its aluminium car body production, and to hear about the safety systems in place.

She was given an insight into the company's 'Safety Commitment', which sees managers at all levels take accountability for safety, having the proper plans in place to manage it on a day-to-day basis. The company considers this to be the driver behind a year on year reduction in lost time incidents.

Judith Hackitt, HSE Chair, said:

"It is really exciting to see UK manufacturing and engineering at its very best. Many of the engineering innovations I saw at Jaguar have helped to improve productivity and efficiency and also eliminate risks to employees. The advanced robotic technology used by Jaguar Land Rover and the move to aluminium bodywork are not only efficient from a manufacturing perspective, but from a worker safety point of view too.

Paul Stanton explains the safety systems in place surrounding robotic techniques used in the aluminium body production process.

"I was also pleased to hear about the company's commitment to create a health and safety culture that everyone is part of, from the top table down to the workers on the ground - a great template for other companies to follow."

Grant McPherson, Operations Director at Jaguar Land Rover Castle Bromwich, said:

"At Jaguar Land Rover we continue to strive for improvements in safety and, as we develop and invest in new technologies and our future, we look forward to a continued positive and open relationship with the HSE in order to be part of how industry can drive forward the safety agenda."

Notes to editors

1. In 2010/11 manufacturing jobs accounted for about 10% of the British workforce, but for 21% of fatalities and 15% of reported injuries to employees. There has however been reductions in injury and ill health rates over the past decade, and in 2010/11 there were:
   • 27 fatal injuries to workers compared to an average of 30 in the previous five years - about a quarter of the number 20 years ago (RIDDOR)
   • 17 599 reported non-fatal injures and an estimated 27 000 self-reported injuries - 11% of the reported injuries involved contact with moving machinery (RIDDOR and LFS).
2. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
3. Further information on workplace statistics can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR West Midlands