Workshops in health and safety on offer for Aycliffe firms

Date:

17 January 2013

Release No:

NE/003/13

Businesses in Newton Aycliffe are being offered workshops in health and safety as part of a new initiative to provide free information, support and guidance.

The Estates Excellence initiative, organised by a range of partners, will offer a series of special events at South West Durham Training premises.

The events will offer employers and their staff a chance to access free expert advice covering a wide range of health and safety topics such as fire risk assessments, control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH), practical manual handling and many more.

The Estates Excellence team will be approaching businesses in the town over the next few weeks to explain the services they can offer. If a business wants to take part, further meetings will be set up to assess its operations, identify any risks and then provide relevant workshops on topics such as risk assessment, stress at work, workplace transport, manual handling and fire management.

Charl Erasmus, of SW Durham Training, said:

"As we all know health and safety plays a very big part in our lives. In difficult times we could all use that little extra support and this is a great example of companies pulling together and raising the collective standards and maintaining focus on what is important to the well being of their organisation and their staff. After all, a safe workforce is a better workforce."

Joanne Waller, of Durham County Council, said:

"Durham County Council is committed to improving standards of health and safety across the county. By working in partnership with employers on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate, the Estates Excellence project will help businesses secure a long term health and safety legacy and make Newton Aycliffe 'Altogether Safer'."

David Snowball, HSE Director for Scotland and Northern England said:

"The Estates Excellence initiative works in partnership with businesses providing clear information, on-site training and practical help to improve the health and safety of workers.

"This obviously not only benefits the workers' themselves but will also save businesses time and money by cutting down the risk of accidents in the workplace, down time and time off work for employees, all of which will help increase productivity."

Estates Excellence has been organised by Durham and North Yorkshire Safety Group and South West Durham Training, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Durham County Council, Durham and is supported by Great Aycliffe Town Council.

Other partners supporting the initiative include North East TUC, Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), NHS County Durham, Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Federation of Small Businesses, ARCO and local companies.

For more information about Estates Excellence go to www.hse.gov.uk/estatesexcellence or contact the team by email at Estatesaycliffe@hse.gsi.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. The Estates Excellence launch event will be held at South West Durham Training, Durham Way South, Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe on Wednesday 30 January 2013 from 9.30am. Media are invited to attend for photograph/interview opportunities from 10.30 onwards. Contact on the day will be Jim Fairbrass. Please contact Karen Bell or Jill Barber at RNN on 0191 283 4003/4009 for more details or to confirm attendance.
2. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent 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. www.hse.gov.uk

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