Safe maintenance campaign details

The Health and Safety Executive, in partnership with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the EEF and the TUC, launched the UK's involvement in the Healthy Workplaces European Campaign on Safe Maintenance in London on 21 June 2010. The formal launch of the campaign sees the start of European Campaign activities in the UK. Speakers at the launch event included Judith Hackitt, Chair of HSE, Hugh Robertson (TUC), Steve Pointer (EEF) and Tim Tregenza (EU-OSHA)

The Healthy Workplaces Europe-wide Campaign for 2010-2011 aims to promote safe and healthy workplaces by encouraging an integrated and structured approach to maintenance.

Maintenance is a process that affects every area of safety and health. Poor standards and a failure to keep working environments in good condition are major causes of accidents and occupational diseases.

What is maintenance?

In this context, maintenance simply means keeping the workplace, its structures, equipment, machines, furniture and facilities operating safely, while also making sure that their condition does not decline. Regular maintenance can also prevent their sudden and unexpected failure.

There are two main types of maintenance:

preventive or proactive maintenance - periodic checks and repairs; and
corrective or reactive maintenance - carrying out unforeseen repairs on workplace facilities or equipment after sudden breakage or failure. This is usually more hazardous than scheduled maintenance.

Why is it an issue?

Maintenance-related accidents are a serious cause of concern. For example, analysis of data from recent years indicates that 25-30% of manufacturing industry fatalities in Great Britain were related to maintenance activity.

Who can take part?

The campaign is open to all organisations and individuals at local, national and European levels, including:

employers in the public and private sector, including SMEs;
managers, supervisors and workers;
trade unions and safety representatives;
safety and health institutions;
OSH professionals and practitioners;
training providers and the education community; and
Occupational Safety and Health prevention and insurance services.

How can you get involved?

A wide variety of campaign material is free to download from the HSE website and the European Agency campaign website, see the resources section for further details.

A variety of activities take place every year before, during and after the European Week for Safety and Health at Work (w/c 24 October in 2011). Suggested activities include:

Show an EU-OSHA slideshow on maintenance to your management team and/or safety committee to plan your organisation's response
Raise your workforce's awareness with the campaign posters and campaign literature
Run an event for your organisation to coincide with European Week
Purchase a copy of the NAPO DVD to show to your workforce
Try the Safe Maintenance Health check and address any weaknesses you find
Mentor contractors in your supply chain using your knowledge and the resources available
Make others aware of the campaign and resources through eBulletins, newsletters and emails

Certificate of participation

Tell the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work what you did during the European Campaign to receive your own personalised Certificate of Participation in recognition of your commitment to the campaign.

Campaign supporters

For organisations who are able to act on an international level, and who want to engage substantially in the campaign, there is also the option of becoming an official EU campaign partner.

Further information on the certificate of participation and official EU campaign partners

National and local organisations that plan to play a significant role in the campaign in the UK can get in touch to discuss becoming an official campaign supporter by emailing uk.focalpoint@hse.gsi.gov.uk