As a result, we have worked with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other trade bodies through the SiMPLC initiative (Safety in Manufacturing Plastics and Composites - the steering group of which we chair) to put tools in place to support our sector.
In 2013 we launched our H&S (Health & Safety) action plan for 2014-17, the details of which were closely aligned with the SiMPLC strategy and focused on the same key areas. This lead to development of our online health and safety management system (HSMS) which was launched along with a self-audit tool for members in November 2016. The tool has been taken up well by industry and is continuously being developed to ensure it remains current. We are now working with member company Towergate Insurance to link this self-audit tool with insurance premiums – the long-term objective is to improve H&S standards across the sector and reward those that perform well.
HSE launched its new strategy in 2016, and so the SiMPLC Steering Group has revised the SiMPLC strategy for 2018-2021 in alignment with this. The new SiMPLC strategy - to be launched later this year - recognises and builds upon work already done and supports the commitment of the composites manufacturing industries to the principles set out in the HSE’s strategy for the health and safety system for Great Britain 2016-2020, Helping Great Britain work well. Also, the HSE’s Health and Work strategy and plans and its sector plan for health and safety in manufacturing. The two key areas the new strategy focuses on are ill health and reduction of injuries.
Composites UK, through its H&S task group is currently updating our H&S action plan to bring this in line with the HSE strategy. The plan for 2018-21 will be launched at the end of this year. We will be working with our members and the wider manufacturing community to identify the key priorities for the UK composites industry in the key areas of ill health and reduction of injuries, set relevant targets and develop information and tools to achieve these. This will enable us, as the Trade Association for the UK composites industry, to deliver the H&S support it needs.
To keep up to date with our work on H&S follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn where we will post new information and links to relevant websites/tools. If you would like to be involved with our work please contact the office.
If you work with styrene, then make sure you attend our information event on 29th November, Solihull ‘Managing Styrene in the Workplace’. Details can be found here: https://compositesuk.co.uk/events/managing-styrene-workplace
The HSMS can be viewed through this link: https://compositesuk.co.uk/health-safety-management-system
