Every four-and-a-half seconds, a worker in the European Union is involved in an accident that forces them to stay at home for at least three working days. Here in the UK, 34 million days were lost (1.4 days per worker) due to workplace injury and work-related health in 2007-8 and 299,000 reportable injuries occurred.
Many accidents at work are avoidable and, to tie in with ‘European Week for Safety and Health at Work’, Breckland Council has invited 735 businesses in the district to attend free risk assessment training on 23rd October at the council offices in Dereham. Working in partnership with the council, Labyrinth Safety Management, who specialise in the field of health & safety will demystify risk assessment and show that it is a straightforward, commonsense process that does not require specialist skills.
This year, the annual ‘European Week for Safety and Health at Work’ will support a two-year European-wide campaign to promote the importance of carrying out risk assessments in every workplace. 2009 is the second year of the Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of risk assessment and promote good practice.
Executive Member for Economic, Health and Housing, Paul Claussen said;
“These free training events will give real benefits to employers, workers and safety representatives. The workshops are designed to refresh health and safety skills and are full of practical advice that can be taken back and put straight into practice, helping to reduce accidents at work”.
Further information about risk assessment and European-wide initiatives can be found on the website,
www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek/resources.htm