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Free Health and Safety boost for Trafford Park firms

Trafford Park’s small and medium sized businesses are to benefit from a new scheme, the first of its kind in the North West, offering free expert health and safety support and training.

The Estates Excellence Initiative is run by Trafford Council, the Health and Safety Executive, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Churchgate Academy, supported by local business. It aims to reduce the risk of workplace accidents, to help save businesses time and money and increase productivity.

It is also hoped the initiative’s work will continue in the future, with a legacy health and safety support network established, that will support Trafford Park businesses in the future. Running from September to the end of November, members of the Estates Excellence team will be contacting businesses to explain the service on offer.

All local employers signing up will then be visited during October. They will have the chance to talk through the steps they have already taken, identify gaps in their health and safety knowledge and will then be offered workshops around topics like risk assessment, stress at work, workplace transport, manual handling and fire management.

There is at least one fatal or potentially fatal incident each year in Trafford Park and falls from height and workplace transport remain the two greatest areas of concern. In addition Trafford Park businesses account for almost two thirds of all local reportable workplace accidents each year.

The importance therefore of running the initiative across the industrial estate to help reduce these figures is clear.

Executive Councillor Alan Mitchell said: “Managing health and safety issues is vital for all companies, but with lots of information available, owners can find it difficult to work out what is relevant to their business. Trafford Council remains committed to supporting local businesses in whatever ways it can. This is why, along with our partners, we are offering this free training and advice.

“I would encourage all small and medium sized Trafford Park businesses to sign up to this initiative. It’s not about inspection or enforcement, but working with them to make sure they have clear, tailored information, on-site training and practical help to improve the health and safety of their workers.” The Village Nursery, on Third Avenue in Trafford Park, is one of the first businesses to sign up to the scheme. Rebecca Moore, nursery manager, said: “The idea of bringing tailored advice and free workshops direct to local business premises really appealed to us. For businesses who sign up it should provide an insight into why good health and safety practice isn’t too difficult and makes good business sense for the long term future and prosperity of any company. “The whole scheme offers real benefits to employers and employees by protecting and improving people’s wellbeing, reducing sick leave and improving the way the business works.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .