BSIF highlights importance of safe maintenance

The HSE, in conjunction with TUC, launched a campaign earlier this year to increase understanding of the importance of safe maintenance in the workplace. The HSE estimates that between 25 to 30 per cent of all manufacturing industry deaths in Britain occur while equipment or facilities are being maintained. Fatalities usually happen from falls from height and failure to properly isolate machinery so that it restarts while being worked on. The European Week for Safety and Health at Work has become one of Europe's largest awareness raising campaigns for safer workplaces and the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) said it has always been keen to add its support to these very important campaigns. BSIF chairman David Hall, said: "The BSIF is happy to once again lend its support to The European Week for Safety and Health and Work. With a shared objective to improve safety and health in the work place, we fully support the Safe Maintenance campaign to raise awareness of the risks associated with maintenance and the need to carry it out safely. Ultimately this campaign aims to help to reduce the number of people who are killed, injured or experiencing ill health as a result of inadequate maintenance or lack of maintenance, now and in the future – something the BSIF fully supports. Many of these incidents are easily preventable and by raising the awareness of the issues, simple solutions can be easily implemented. We understand that assessing the risks posed within a workplace and recognising how these could change over time can be a daunting task for employers. The BSIF can provide assistance and advice and we would encourage anyone concerned to contact us for further information."