In 2008/09, 180 employees were killed at work in Great Britain. 29.3 million working days were lost overall (1.24 days per worker) due to work-related ill health and workplace injury. In many cases, simple health and safety measures could have prevented the deaths, injury and ill health that cause significant personal and economic loss.
A new initiative between local Councils and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be launched next month when inspectors visit around 150 workplaces on industrial estates in Eastbourne, Wealden and Hastings.
Code-named CASE - 'Common Approach to Sussex Enterprise', the initiative will start on 22nd February 2010 and last for one week. Businesses will be advised of the initiative by letter, giving employers an opportunity to review their safety management and systems.
Inspections will focus on the assessment and control of the risks associated with workplace transport, manual handling, slips & trips, working at height and managing asbestos. Inspectors will be looking at how employers control risks, and will offer advice on complying with the law. However, inspectors will take enforcement action to deal with serious risks to health and safety and poor standards.
For information on what may be covered during inspections please see our information sheet (pdf 123kb)
Related leaflet:
Safe use of ladders & stepladders (pdf 518 kb)
Preventing slips and trips at work (pdf 69kb)
Workplace transport safety (pdf 267kb)
Getting to grips with manual handling (pdf 294kb)
A short guide to managing asbestos in premises (pdf 182kb)