Manufacturing Sector Strategy 2012-15

Sector description

• 15% of UK GDP and 50% of total exports
• Directly employs approximately 8.5% of workforce (2.5 million people), but 16% of reported injuries to employees
• Small businesses and self-employed account for 35% of workforce. 43.5% are employed by large businesses
• Ageing workforce with 30% over 50

Manufacturing is a diverse sector that encompasses a large number of industries and sub-industries, ranging from heavy industries to specialist or delicate operations. They span large employers to those dominated by micro-businesses or the self-employed, and include growing industries as well as those in decline. The health or safety hazards are often specific to the processes involved, which differ substantially between industry/subsector.

Sector strategy

This strategy covers the various different industries that make up the manufacturing sector. It takes into account:

• sector-specific issues (such as injury and ill-health incidence) and cross-cutting perspectives (such as leadership, worker involvement etc)
• past investment by the regulator (HSE) and its business contacts in initiatives in different parts of manufacturing
• whether the control of occupational health hazards have been given sufficient attention

Efforts to improve control of health and safety risks across manufacturing must accommodate the diversity between the industries yet continue to be efficient and effective by using consistent approaches. Approaches may need to be customised to meet the requirements of specific industries and sub-industries.