HSE MOVES TO NEW GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT
Posted Sunday, July 28, 2002 by Ahmed Khan
MESSAGE FROM ANDREW SMITH, SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS
I am very pleased that the Prime Minister has decided that the Department of Work and Pensions should be given responsibility for the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive. Preventing people from being injured or made ill at work is an important task; enabling people to continue at work or to return to work after injury is a key part of the Department’s own objectives. I know there are many examples of good cooperation between DWP and HSE and I hope the move of HSC/E will help this develop further.
The move is effective from 24th July 2002
NEW SAFETY AWARD LAUNCHED FOR SMALLER CONSTRUCTION FIRMS
Posted Sunday, July 28, 2002 by Ahmed Khan
Smaller firms are being given the chance to show their commitment to safety with the launch of a new category in the construction industry's Working Well Together (WWT) awards.
The WWT 4Cs Construction Safety Awards are a national contest run by the WWT campaign. WWT is the largest safety campaign in the industry, with over 4,000 participating organisations & & is supported by the HSE, trade unions & the construction industry.
Although the annual 4Cs awards are now in their 3rd, this is the first time that smaller firms have had an award category dedicated to them. Their entries need to give examples of their commitment to health & safety at work.
To enter for the 'small firms' award, organisations must have fewer than 15 employees or an annual turnover of less than £500,000.
Announcing the new award category, HSE Chief Inspector of Construction, Kevin Myers said:
"This new award, specifically targeted at smaller businesses is an important development of the WWT campaign. We estimate that over half of the 1.8 million people in the construction industry work in small firms or are self-employed. We need to ensure that all construction companies, irrespective of size, are properly managing the health & safety risks they create & control.
"By introducing this new award we hope we can capture some of the excellent achievements by smaller firms & demonstrate that you don't need to be a big firm to get involved in improving health & safety - or indeed winning awards!"
The awards will be presented at a prestigious gala dinner on 28 November at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.
To find out more about the WWT 4Cs awards, contact Kylie Mettam on 0207 862 0084 or email kylie.mettam@octagon.com. Details can also be found on the WWT website at wwt.uk.com. Entries must be submitted by 27 September 2002.