§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives have been taken by his Department since July to improve health and safety in motor vehicle repair.
§ Mr. ForthSince July 1991, the Health and Safety Executive has published and publicised a booklet and a video entitled "Health and Safety in Motor Vehicle Repair" aimed at improving health and safety in the motor vehicle repair industry. Inspectors have continued to undertake visits to motor vehicle repair premises for inspection and other purposes and to seek compliance with the health and safety regulations that apply. Additionally inspectors from the Heath and Safety Executive's engineering national interest group have met the National Tyre Distributors Association to discuss problems relevant to that sector of the industry.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish figures to the latest date available of health, safety and accident incidence in(a) the brewery industry, (b) the soft drinks industry and (c) the wine and cider industries in each of the past four years.
§ Mr. ForthReported injury statistics for these specific industries have been separately available only since 1989–90 and are provided in the table.
Information concerning occupational ill-health is not available for these industries.
Numbers of reported1 injuries to employees in specified drinks manfacturing industries, 1989–90 2Great Britain Injury Severity Brewing and Malting3 Soft Drinks4 Wines, Cider and Perry5 Fatal — — — Major6 88 38 12 Over 3 Day7 1,555 396 98 All Reported 1,643 434 110 Rate per 100,000 employees Fatal and Major 215.7 226.2 315.8 All Reported 4,027.0 2,583.3 2,894.7 1 Reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) to HSC/E. 2 Year beginning 1 April. 3 Defined as Standard Industrial Classification 1980 (SIC) activity heading 4270. 4 Defined as SIC 1980 activity heading 4283. 5 Defined as SIC 1980 activity heading 4261. 6 As defined under RIDDOR. 7 Injuries causing incapacity for work for more than three consecutive days.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what contributions Her Majesty's Government currently plan to make to the European Year of Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work.
§ Mr. ForthThe Government welcome this European initiative and hope that it will give a new thrust to the improvement of occupational health and safety throughout the Community. In the United Kingdom, a national liaison committee has been set up by the Health and Safety Commission to co-ordinate activities for the year. It is 263W composed of employer, trade union, voluntary sector and Government representatives. The national committee is working with the Health and Safety Executive to develop a full programme of events and activities throughout the year. Some EC funding is available. Applications have been invited from a wide range of private, public and voluntary sector bodies to take forward projects during the year. In addition, many employers, workers and voluntary organisations are planning their own initiatives for the year. The success of the year clearly depends on the widest possible involvement at all levels.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new measures to enhance health and safety in clinical laboratories have been recently introduced.
§ Mr. ForthOn 17 September the Health and Safety Commission published new guidance entitled "Safety in Health Service Laboratories" on safe working and the prevention of infection in clinical laboratories and post-mortem rooms. This was accompanied by model rules for staff and visitors.
The guidance which has been made available to the Health Departments aims to help employers in the health care sector to comply with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, in particular in the context of risk assessment. A copy has been placed in the House Library.