HSC aims to cut injuries
18 Oct 2001
The Health and Safety Commission is aiming to reduce dramatically the number of working days lost through injuries and ill-health.
In its Strategic Plan for 2001/4, it sets out targets for improving safety at work by focusing on a series of 'priority areas' where most injuries and illnesses currently occur.
The plan aims to reduce the number of working days lost per 100 000 workers from work-related stress by 30 per cent by 2010; to cut the fatal accidents and those causing major injuries by 10 per cent; and to reduce work-related ill-health by 20 per cent. Moreover, it aims to achieve half of each improvement target by 2004.
It has identified eight priority areas to concentrate on - falls from height; workplace transport; musculoskeletal disorders; work-related stress; agriculture; construction; health services and slips and trips.
'The strategic plan identifies priority programmes to tackle the main hazards and worst-offending sectors of industry,' explains HSC chair Bill Callaghan. 'These are the areas where we feel improvement is most needed and where HSE activity can be most effective. There is general agreement that we got the priorities right.'
Copies of the plan are available, free, from the HSE website, http://www.hsebooks.co.uk, or from the orderline, 01787 881165.
