• Health and Safety is never really out of the news. • Paper is a modern, people-focused, responsible Industry. • We keep our Members abreast of Health and Safety issues. • We made Health and Safety a priority in 2011 and we’ll continue to do so.
The 2011 programme specifically focused on the new PABIAC strategy 2012 – 2014 ‘Being the Difference Together’. It was officially launched by David Gartside, Board Member, HSE. In the keynote speech, David congratulated the Industry on its achievements over recent years, which under the previous PABIAC strategy delivered significant improvements in managing Health and Safety. As he launched it, he confirmed the HSE’s commitment to working with the Paper Industry and trade unions in PABIAC, and retaining the tripartite relationship which has brought continued success over a number of years.
The conference played host to a number of speakers, who each gave excellent presentations. Without any question, the most acclaimed speaker on the day was Jennifer Deeney, who for fifty minutes captivated the audience with an incredibly brave and emotional account of life without her husband, Keiron Deeney, who died following a workplace accident.
Feedback from many of the attendees proclaimed that the event had been “inspirational” and the “best ever”!
Setting standards
On a European front, CPI continues to be involved in working with other countries in setting new and revised machinery standards. These include being actively involved in helping to develop new EU standards for future Vertical and Horizontal Balers and Compactor units. We have engaged openly with HSE on the issues surrounding the guarding standards for hand-fed platen, which in turn has helped us to influence other European countries, to the point of rewriting the European standards for these machines.
Our work with the Health and Safety Laboratory and the Road Haulage and the Freight Transport Associations on producing UK guidance for the transportation of all materials on UK roads continues. Members may recall that the issue surrounding load security was deemed by many to be an issue for the Paper Industry alone. Our persistence in highlighting this as an issue for UK plc has resulted in it being taken up by the HSE & Industry Stakeholders Load Retention Review Group. In addition to load security, we actively pressed the UK Government on a European proposal to reduce the height of new-build trailers to 4 metres. Should this go through, the financial implications for the Industry will be enormous.
Looking ahead to 2012
The new PABIAC strategy, supported by the work of the Sector Delivery Committees, will be a big part of the activities that CPI undertakes during 2012. As we strive to set fair and equitable standards across Europe, involvement in working groups and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) will continue.
We will continue to facilitate regional meetings, issue industry-specific guidance documents, provide regular news bulletins, and share information on accidents that challenges common practices and drives improvements.
In April, the Government’s policy of placing a duty on the HSE to recover costs where duty holders are found to be in material breach of health and safety law will come into effect. This is known as ‘fee for intervention’, and it could cost companies £750 a day.
It will be interesting to see how this will be applied in practice, particularly in the waste and recycling industries, where due to the high injury rate, proactive HSE inspections are most likely!
CPI is mindful of the challenges that lie ahead. There continue to be considerable uncertainties about the future economic outlook, HSE is going through a process of change, and Health and Safety in general is clearly on the Government’s agenda.
Jennifer Deeney
It has never been more important for the Industry to continue to work together, demonstrate commitment, and ensure that it does everything possible to be certain that everyone working in the Paper Industry does so safely.
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