The Independent Wastepaper Processors Association and the British Recovered Paper Association have been working together with the Health and Safety Executive, and attracted 80 people to a safety conference at Daventry last week.
Mike Limb, IWPPA administration manager, said: “Our industry's health and safety record could be better. We are collating information on the cause of accidents but a high proportion are related to transport, both forklifts and lorries.”
Mr Limb said one problem to date had been that any guidance available for the paper industry was aimed only at paper making, and that the new guidance being developed would fill the gap for reprocesses.
The two organisations committed themselves to an action plan which includes striving to meet the government's target for all industries of a reduction of 10% in the rate of fatalities and major injuries by 2010, with half of this being achieved by 2004.
HSE official Andrew Porter, who chairs the Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee, warned delegates that if they cannot manage health and safety – “they can't manage”.
The conference also heard from Mike Wilcox, of AON Insurance Brokers, who warned that the industry must expect increases in premiums of between 30-100% for property, 20-60% for motor, and up to 100% for employer liability.
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