PTIC Supports New Initiative to Reduce Plastics Industry Injuries
A new industry-led initiative to improve health and safety in the plastics industry is being supported by the Polymer Training and Innovation Centre (PTIC).
The PTIC, based at Stafford Park, in Telford, is one of eight organizations across the country to join the SIMPL (Safety in Manufacturing Plastics) initiative, which aims to reduce the number of accidents in the workplace through embedding a health and safety culture within businesses.
The plastics industry – in keeping with the rest of the manufacturing sector – has one of the highest rates of industrial injuries.
Latest figures show that in 2008/09, one person was killed and 1,158 were injured in a sector that employs approximately 143,600 people.
Manual handling and slips and trips are responsible for the majority of injuries and illnesses include occupational asthma and dermatitis.
The SIMPL initiative, supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will run over three years from 2011 to 2014.
Individual companies are invited to sign a pledge to demonstrate their commitment to improving the health and safety record of the industry as a whole. In return, SIMPL will help employers achieve what they identify as health and safety priorities for their individual business.
The participating employers’ organisations will create action plans to help their members achieve long-term improvements. An accident reporting format will also be established for each area of industry, against which year on year reduction targets will be set.
Charmaine Bowers, PTIC Operations Manager, said: “PTIC have been involved with the SIMPL initiative since its inception, and we feel strongly about supporting the industry and the stake holders to improve the safety record.
“The SIMPL approach will add real value especially as the Trade Associations have taken the time to develop step by step models specific to their industries.”
Andrea Przystupa, Health & Safety Advisor, Unite the Union, said: “In order to take employees with them, organisations need to move away from a blame culture and encourage more positive safety cultures where consultation and workforce involvement are the norm. Effort should be made to address the real issues and put in place good health and safety management systems creating a good working environment for their people.”
Kevin Myers, Deputy Chief Executive for HSE, said: “The injury rate in the plastics industry, like the rest of the manufacturing sector, is well above the all industries average. It’s essential that senior management recognises the importance of developing a positive health and safety culture, but we also need to draw on the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm of those closest to the risks, the employees.
“Industrial injuries can not only be devastating to the victims, but can put real strain on small firms. It’s good business sense to manage workplace hazards.
“This is why the SIMPL initiative aims to work with everyone across the industry to really drive change and reduce the number of people being killed, injured or made ill by their work.”
For more information on the SIMPL initiative, visit www.hse.gov.uk/plastics