Taylor launches health and safety campaign

The national safety awareness campaign is set to take the shape of an educational booklet, which outlines the relevant health and safety guidelines for container use and manufacturing, as well as a poster to be displayed in work places and a special video.

The Droitwich-based company said it had developed the campaign in response to figures published by the Health and Safety Executive in November 2010, which indicated that the injury and fatality rate in the waste sector was still higher than the industry average (see letsrecycle.com story).

Taylor claims that selecting the wrong product could put workers at risk of injury, as well as leaving organisations potentially facing HSE investigations and legal proceedings.

Commenting on the campaign, Peter Selkirk, chief executive of Taylor, said: As an industry we cannot afford to sit still when it comes to health and safety. Taylor has made a commitment to ensure that all its products are produced, and maintained, to the highest standards.

Only by being properly informed of these standards will those who work in the industry be able to make the right decision; protecting the safety of workers, customers and the general public.

Guide

The guide issued to those dealing with purchasing is intended to highlight the dangers of non-compliance. Further information will include an advertising campaign, case studies on recent industry related accidents and information on the rigorous testing required to meet necessary requirements.

The recognised European Standard for mobile waste containers is EN840, which outlines necessary safety requirements for waste and recycling containers.

As part of an individual commitment to health and safety, Taylor has invested in its own Test House, which the firm claims is the only fully certified research and development facility that offers regular testing. Taylor said this goes beyond the requirements of EN840 and it is validated every six months by external UKAS certified auditors.

Waste bins have been taken for granted for many years but this is because the majority of items in use today are of a high quality standard, said Mr Selkirk. It is imperative that this standard is maintained, and the potential risks made plain to those who may be considering using equipment that does not conform to the relevant standard.