Groundwork Business Briefing

Healthy workplaces

Workplaces are ideal settings to promote good health (both mental and physical). Companies that protect the health, safety and welfare of employees can reduce the major cost implications of absenteeism and increase the effectiveness of their workforce.

Well-structured health promotion programmes tackle smoking, healthy eating, physical activity, stress, and drug and alcohol issues. Benefits of such programmes range from reducing staff sickness, decreasing the risk of compensation claims for work related ill-health, to helping to ensure compliance with workplace health related legislation e.g. smoking, stress, health and safety.

As a result of recently secured funding, small and medium sized businesses in Rochdale can now obtain FREE healthy lifestyle support services from Groundwork EBS.

If your business is based in the Rochdale borough and you would like FREE health support for your workplace then call Martin Morris at Groundwork EBS on 0161 624 1444.

Working days lost down by a quarter

Statistics published by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) reveal that the number of working days lost in Great Britain due to work-related injury and ill health fell from 40 million in 2000/02
to 30 million working days in 2005/06. Stress and musculoskeletal disorders were by far the most common causes for the 24 million working days lost due to ill health.

The figures show the latest progress against targets to improve national health and safety by 2010. Progress to reduce ill health and to reduce working days lost is on track. Fatal and major injuries fell in 2005/06, though progress is not presently on track to meet the reduction target.

HSC Chair Bill Callaghan said: "I'm delighted that the statistics released today demonstrate improvements. This is testament to the determination and commitment of staff across HSE and Local Authorities.”

The full report, Health and safety statistics 2005/06, can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh0506.pdf.

For advice on health in the workplace contact Karen Cox at Groundwork EBS on 0161 624 1444.

 

Start the day with a pick me up

Car sharing is a simple and easy way to help the environment by reducing carbon emissions from vehicles.

CarShareGM.com is a free website, sponsored by all 10 of Greater Manchester’s boroughs, designed to help car sharers contact each other.

On regular journeys such as travelling to work, car sharing gives you the convenience, comfort and control of your car, with added benefits.

• Save money on fuel and parking
• Fewer cars on the road reduces air and noise pollution
• Save yourself the stress of driving
• Fewer cars on the road means less congestion on your journey
• Reduced wear and tear on your vehicle

Businesses can organise their own car sharing schemes to reduce congestion in their car park and to help the environment. Many companies reward participants with reserved free parking spaces.

For information on the CarShareGM scheme visit: www.carsharegm.com

For advice on how to limit your environmental impact by considering greener transport alternatives, contact Groundwork EBS on 0161 624 1444.

 

Water quality hits high

England has recorded its best ever results for water quality, with a compliance rate of 99.5%. The near-perfect standards represent an improvement on 2005’s results, with only 2 of the country’s 413 monitored bathing waters failing to meet the ‘mandatory’ rating.

Along with a record number of sites meeting the required standards, more than 75% of all English bathing waters also reached much tighter 'guideline' water quality standards, higher than last year's figure of 73.7%.

For more information on water quality and discharge consents, contact Groundwork EBS on 0161 624 1444.

 

New Guide to Fly Tipping

A new guide that will help landowners and land managers tackle fly-tipping was published last month. The 'Tackling Fly-tipping' guide, produced by the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), aims to provide support to victims and potential victims of fly-tipping on preventing and dealing with the problem.

Fly-tipping is a criminal activity that can cause serious pollution of the environment, can be a risk to human health and can harm wildlife and farm animals. It also spoils our local neighbourhoods
and quality of life.Copies of the guide can be dowloaded from www.nftpg.org.

 

Agency on copying blitz

The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) is to target businesses in Greater Manchester in a clampdown on illegal photocopying and scanning. The cost of a licence starts at £103, and depends on company size. There is a reward of up to £20,000 to anyone who provides evidence concerning copyright infringement that results in a successful legal action, which can lead to imprisonment or an unlimited fine. More details can be found at www.cla.co.uk

 

Vehicles in the workplace

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has urged companies operating vehicles in the workplace to learn lessons from an incident in North Wales in which a demolition worker was fatally injured by a moving vehicle.

Anthony Hoare, of Litherland, Liverpool, was struck by a telehandler at the Great Lakes Chemical Works demolition site in Amlwch, Anglesey, in January 2005. His employers, J. Routledge amp; Sons Ltd of Widnes, Cheshire, were given a two year conditional discharge and agreed to pay £10,000 costs at
Wrexham Magistrates' Court, after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. The company has ceased trading since the incident.

For confidential information on workplace transport issues, contact Groundwork EBS on 0161 624 1444.

 

Work placements

Groundwork’s employability section has a number of people who are keen to gain work experience, after being on long-term incapacity benefit. The placements sought are for a six month term on a part time basis with wages being paid via Groundwork.

If your company is able to provide a suitable placement and would like some assistance with administration or other tasks, then please contact Groundwork. There is no charge to businesses for participating in the scheme and it could provide a valuable extra pair of hands.

For further information on this programme, or to register your interest, please contact Tim Godfrey in Groundwork’s Employability department on 0161 624 1444.

Learn Direct Courses

Would your employees like to gain new skills?

Is a member of your workforce struggling in their job due to poor maths or English?

With around 400 Learn Direct courses on offer, ranging from Microsoft Office products through to team and management training, there is something for everyone.

The online courses are now available through Groundwork at a 5% discount to BEA members. Courses may be followed at home or work, online at any time of day.

For further information on courses available, contact Colin Schofield in Groundwork’s Employability department on 0161 624 1444 or email colin.schofield@groundwork.org.uk

Emergency First Aid

Appointed Persons Training
25 January 2007
This one-day course provides delegates with basic theoretical and practical skills in current first aid techniques.

This course is ideal for smaller business where there are fewer health and safety risks. The training is suitable for employees from all levels of an organisation and no prior first aid knowledge is required.

A certificate is issued for delegates upon successful completion of the training.

Venue: Groundwork Oldham amp; Rochdale
Date: 25 January 2007
Time: 9am to 5pm
Cost: £40 (+VAT) for BEA members
£60 (+VAT) for non-members

To book a place, contact Jean Maxwell at Groundwork EBS on 0161 624 1444.

Foundation Certificate in Food Hygiene

Groundwork is now able to offer a one-day training course in Food Hygiene.

This course is designed to provide food handlers with an appreciation of the fundamentals of good practice regarding food hygiene and to equip them with the skills necessary to work safely with food.

Benefits of this course include:

• Superior food hygiene
• High quality public image
• Reduction in business risk
• Legal compliance

This course is available on demand, subject to sufficient interest and can be delivered either at the Environment Centre in Oldham or alternatively in your own company premises.

Please ring Stella Clark on 0161 624 1444 to request prices and a booking form.