A new three-year SIMPL (Safety in Manufacturing Plastics and Composites) strategy has been launched by the organisations involved in the initiative.
The SIMPL (Safety in Manufacturing Plastics and Composites) project was first launched in 2010 in a bid to improve health and safety in the plastics and composites sectors. Since then, the organisations involved – which include The British Plastics Federation, Composites UK, The Glass and Glazing Federation, GMB, Polymer Machinery Manufacturers & Distributors Association, and Unite – say a wealth of information has been made available to industry and there has been a “notable decrease” in the number of accidents in past year.
Now, a new strategy, supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will run from 2018 to 2021. The strategy has been described as bringing together all parts of the industry, including trade organisations and unions, to help deliver a health and safety culture within businesses to reduce accidents and ill-health.
Companies are invited to sign a pledge to demonstrate their commitment to improving the health and safety record of the industry. In return, SIMPL said it will continue to help employers achieve what they identify as health and safety priorities for their business.
HSE head of manufacturing and utilities unit John Rowe said, “It is encouraging that the injury rate in the plastics industry has significantly reduced since the first strategy in 2010, and is now below the all manufacturing industries average. In line with the HSE Helping Great Britain Work Well strategy, the SIMPL strategy for 2018 to 2021 aims to continue with initiatives to reduce accidents within the sector. There is also a commitment to reducing the incidence of occupational ill-health.
“The new SIMPL initiative aims to continue to work with everyone across the plastics and composites industries to really drive change and reduce the number of people being injured or made ill by their work.”
