The annual Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Conference has kicked off proceedings today (11 June) with the launch of the ‘CIWM Health, Safety & Welfare Pledge’ for the sector.
The pledge comes just days after the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum launched a ‘five prong-plan’ aimed at driving down the number of people killed and seriously injured in the waste and recycling industry.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), between 2004/5 and 2011/12, 97 workers and 19 members of the public were fatally injured, and 3,722 employees suffered ‘major injuries’, making the waste and recycling industry ‘one of Britain’s most dangerous sectors’.
Today, CIWM President John Skidmore asked organisations to ‘go beyond the basic legal requirements and commit to doing a bit more to make their workplaces healthier and safer’.
Open to all companies and organisations involved in waste and resource management, including operators, local authorities, social enterprises, service and product suppliers and buyers, and regulators, the pledge seeks to ‘save lives and save money’.
Suggestions listed in the pledge include:
- involving all staff in a review of current procedures, systems and risk assessments;
- checking that all employees are adhering to implemented systems, and that they are up to date;
- ensuring supervisors and managers are carrying out checks to ascertain whether staff are complying with safe systems of work and can provide evidence of proof; and
- initating a program of screening for your staff for occupational health risks.
The pledge already has the support of several industry bodies, including the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Welsh Local Government Association, and the WISH Forum.
Policy is ‘not enough’
Skidmore said: “The law requires organisations with more than five employees to have health and safety management policies but just having a policy is not enough.
“We want to encourage the waste and recycling industry to really focus on their internal practices and systems to increase employee health and wellbeing, whilst cementing a long-term drive towards eliminating work-related incidents. It should be a core business imperative; after all, good health and safety practices save lives and save money.”
CIWM Chief Executive Steve Lee, added: “This pledge asks signatories to make at least one improvement to their health and safety systems and we hope that organisations will encourage their employees to participate and contribute ideas that will not only reduce the risk of injury, but will also save money and protect against personal liability.
“By promoting the pledge, signposting useful guidance, and sharing good practice from signatories, CIWM is looking to provide a focal point for these efforts in the build-up to European Week for Safety and Health at Work to demonstrate the industry’s commitment to improving its record.”
The pledge has been supported by the WISH Forum, with Chair of the GB forum, Chris Jones, saying: “Through the new health and safety strategy for the waste industry launched earlier this year, our aim is to cut incident rates by 10 per cent year-on-year and reduce the number of fatalities to zero. This pledge is welcome in that it supports that aim and will help to maintain a strong focus on improving the industry’s record and sharing knowledge and good practice.”
A form to sign up to the pledge can be found on CIWM’s website, along with a list of signatories, actions proposed and case studies.
CIWM Conference
The CIWM Conference runs until 12 June and includes a keynote address from Resource Minister Lord de Mauley, as well as talks from Chair of the Visionary Panel on food waste, Lord Deben; Director of Climate, Waste & Atmosphere at Defra, Dr Colin Church; and Director of Sustainable Resources Management, Industry & Air at the European Commission, Soledad Blanco.
Issues covered at the conference include the future of Producer Responsibility, waste prevention, public perception and communication and future EU Policy on waste.
Read more about the CIWM Conference.
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