Focus on composites safety

Composites UK has put in place a three-year strategy to improve safety in plastics and composites manufacturing.

This forms part of the Safety in Manufacturing Plastics and Composites (SIMPLC) initiative which was launched in 2010. This new strategy, supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will run from 2018 to 2021 and covers trade organizations and unions in a bid to stimulate progress on accident and ill-health reduction by helping to embed a health and safety culture within businesses.

Individual companies can sign a pledge to demonstrate their commitment to improving the health and safety record of the industry as a whole. In return, SIMPLC will continue to help employers achieve what they identify as health and safety priorities for their individual business.

Participating trade associations and other supporting organisations have updated their action plans to help their members achieve long-term improvements. Accident reporting will be maintained through these organisations each year, the results of which will enable yearly reduction targets to be set.

‘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,’ said HSE head of manufacturing and utilities John Rowe. ‘In line with the HSE Helping Great Britain Work Well strategy, the SIMPLC 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 SIMPLC 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.’