Manufacturing Sector – Useful H&S Information
Why H&S Is Important To This Sector
There have been over 4500 major injuries and around 19500 over
3-day injuries in the manufacturing sector over the last 5 years.
The manufacturing sector has an estimated 2.8 million workers, some
of these people also suffer ill health through work.
The manufacturing/engineering sector is varied. Issues within
this sector likely to cause most concern include; machinery and
machine guarding, movement of people, goods and vehicles around the
workplace, hazardous substances e.g. dust/fume and solvents, noise
and vibration.
The most common occupational diseases are dermatitis, deafness,
asthma and vibration white finger, and back, hand, arm, shoulder
and neck problems.
Situation Where You Might Need H&S Support
Health and Safety is about sensible, proportionate actions that
protect people, not unnecessary bureaucracy. As well as to your own
employees, you also have duties towards contractors, customers and
members of the public who visit your premises and even others who
may be affected by your business such as neighbours and other
workpeople.
You may well need additional support in areas such as developing
suitable policies and procedures and in developing a suitable
health and safety management system. Furthermore you may need
external assistance in areas such as training and occupational
health.
Actions You May Need To Take
- Ensure you hold Employers Liability Insurance and display the
certificate in a public area
- Display the health and safety law poster
- Decide how you're going to manage health and safety within your
business
- Consult with employees on Health & Safety matters and
provide training
- Make sure you have someone competent to help you meet your
health and safety duties
- Assess the risks to your employees and others who may be
affected by your operations
- Create procedures in case of serious and imminent danger, (E.g.
fire or spillages)
- Undertake periodic examination and testing of certain types
work equipment (E.g. lifting equipment, local exhaust ventilation
etc.)
- Provide Health Surveillance where required (E.g. to assist with
control of metal working fluids or respiratory hazards)
- Report certain work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous
occurrences.
RBS
Mentor can help you
with all of these aspects – be it through auditing your current
documents, liaising with and supporting your appointed Competent
Person, providing 24/7 advice or providing training.
Result Of Doing/Not Doing Something
Health and safety laws will be enforced by inspectors from HSE
or an enforcement officer from your local council. Inspectors and
enforcement officers are legally empowered to:
- Visit workplaces without notice
- Investigate accidents or complaints and inspect safety, health
and welfare aspects of your business
- Talk to employees and safety representatives, take photographs
and samples
- Receive co-operation and answers to questions
If there is a problem, they may issue a formal notice requiring
improvements or, where serious danger exists, a notice that
prohibits the use of a process or equipment. For the most serious
breaches of health and safety law, they may prosecute a firm or an
individual (or report to the Procurator Fiscal with a view to
prosecution in Scotland).
RBS
Mentor can support
you in ensuring you workplace is safe and complies with
legislation. By helping you instil a safety culture through
providing the correct documentation and working with your staff to
get them confident about Risk Assessments, as well as supporting
you with a 24/7 advice line, you can be confident you are in the
best position to keep your workers safe.