Involving workers, managing risk, working safely

Dealing with the ever-growing amounts of health & safety legislation that’s out there can seem like a massive task for many smaller businesses, especially within the retail and hospitality sectors. Statistics show that more working days are lost through injuries to staff in these sectors than in the construction industries.

Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale have recently secured funding to improve health & safety performance within these sectors. Supported by a wide range of partners including Rochdale and Oldham Councils, Asian Business Association (ABA), Kashmir Youth Project (KYP) and Voluntary Action Oldham the project allows employees to drive health and safety improvements within their own workplace. Nicola Lace, Business Services Manager at Groundwork said, “To reduce the high accident and incident rates associated with retail and hospitality sectors it is essential that a company understand its true operational risks. This can only be generated from the employees, the people on the ‘shop floor’. The project will enable employees to get involved and make a difference.”

The grant is from the Health & Safety Executive’s Workers’ Safety Adviser (WSA) Challenge Fund which is designed to increase worker involvement and consultation with the aid of a Worker Safety Adviser. The Adviser will make a number of visits to offer support and advice on specific health and safety issues, assist with training and help build better relationships between employers and staff. The project is FREE for all business who take part.

The benefits of taking part in the project include:

• Promoting consultation on health and safety
• Raising health and safety standards
• Broadening and increasing employers’ and workers’ health and safety knowledge
• Joint working on risk assessments and training for workers

These are achieved through health and safety support including:

• A dedicated Worker Safety Adviser
• Baseline review
• Detailed action plan
• Training and awareness raising
• Telephone helplines

If you are in the retail or hospitality sector and require further information or wish to participate in this project please contact Karen Senior at Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale on 0161 624 1444 or by email to ksenior@groundwork.org.uk.