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Trainer tells businesses: Prioritise health and safety

Health and safety trainer Michelle Hay is urging North-West businesses to make workplace safety a bigger priority after injuries and ill health cost the region £11.2million last year.

Michelle, who is managing director of Michelle Hay Health & Safety Training in Stockport, wants to see firms avoid a repeat of the 2013/14 statistics, which revealed that over 1200 improvement notices and prohibition orders were issued in the area.

According to Government’s Health and Safety Executive (www.hse.gov.uk) North-West companies paid 19% of the £16.4million UK fines during that period – an average of c £29,000 per conviction – and Michelle, who has more than 30 years of industry experience, has called for a stronger emphasis to be placed on health and safety training.

She said: “The figures speak for themselves and go to show that there is plenty of work to be done in the North-West.

“What the statistics say to me loud and clear is that our region’s businesses must put health and safety training at the top of their agendas. Without the right training, their staff cannot be expected to know what to do.

“The problem is so avoidable and yet if it is not addressed by the decision-makers it will continue to put employees’ safety at risk and cost the North-West millions of pounds every year.”

Michelle, who also provides food safety and hygiene training, has helped to lift standards in a number of sectors including hospitality and manufacturing throughout her career, enabling hundreds of staff to gain qualifications.

Her fun, interactive approach to professional training has also earned praise from recipients, with friendly sessions coming in stark contrast to the perception that health and safety has to be a dry topic.

She has been audited for health and safety and food safety on numerous occasions over the last three decades, with exceptional results, and has carried out training at the flagship sites of many high-profile companies, including Bank of America, AstraZeneca, BASF and Cussons PZ, as well as Cheadle Hulme School.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .