Young drivers at work – Your views needed

RoSPA has launched a major research project aimed at helping young drivers (17-24) stay safe when they are on the road as part of their job.

As part of the research, we need to hear from organisations about the risks that their young drivers face and what employers require to manage those risks, including:

• How well the present system of driver training and testing prepares young people for the sort of driving they do for work
  
• Whether employers would recognise and make use of a 'driving for work qualification' when recruiting or managing young staff who drive as part of their job, and
• If so, what should be included in such a qualification or training programme.

Please complete the questionnaire for employers. It will take around 10 minutes and you shouldn't need to search for information to answer the questions. None of the responses will be attributed to you or your organisation. Whether you have just a few young drivers who make occasional deliveries, or many young staff who spend much of their time driving as part of their job, we’re looking to hear your views and experiences.

The results will be published in a report in March 2009. This will be freely available and will help employers and road safety professionals to understand the risks for young at-work drivers, and give guidance on how those risks can be reduced.

The work will also help to inform the DSA's strategy towards post-test learning for young at-work drivers and Lifelong Driver Development in general.

For more information or a printed copy of the questionnaire contact Duncan Vernon.

Scotland winners 2008

2008 has been another record-breaking year for the annual RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards with over 1550 entries.

These Awards recognise the achievements of organisations working to improve health and safety management systems. This year’s RoSPA Scotland Winners celebrated in style with a glittering gala dinner in Glasgow, and entertainment from Scottish comedian, Bruce Fummey.

RoSPA congratulates all award winners on their contributions to raising standards in health and safety management and would like to encourage others to follow their leading example.

Halcrow Group Limited lands top Scottish award

The RoSPA Awards judges were particularly impressed by Halcrow’s arrangements for ensuring the health and safety competence of its workforce. The panel also noted its clear communication of health and safety information, its thorough investigation of incidents to facilitate learning and the high standard of its corporate performance review and reporting.

Other top awards presented in Scotland included:

Distinguished Service: Michael Clapham MP
Awarded for having played an important role in keeping questions of health and safety at the forefront of debate in Parliament.

Distinguished Service: Professor Trevor Kletz OBE
Honoured for making a fundamental contribution to the assessment and control of risks associated with the design, operation and maintenance of chemical process plants.

Electricity Sector – Winner
International Power Global Development Ltd Hub Power Station, of Pakistan
Manufacturing Sector – Commended
National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd

For all other award winners including sector award winners please visit our website.

Are you compliant with CPC regulations?

Under current EU law, bus, coach and large goods vehicle operators seeking an “O” licence have to show that they are professionally competent or employ someone as a transport manager who meets that requirement.

RoSPA's Driver and Fleet Solutions Department is an approved centre to train passenger transport and road haulage managers needing a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

Our eight day CPC National Passenger Transport and CPC National Road Haulage Courses will help a nominated individual to gain this essential qualification and ensure your organisation’s compliance. The courses are run at RoSPA’s Birmingham headquarters and approved by the Oxford, Cambridge and Royal Society of Arts Examination Board (OCR).

RoSPA’s training covers everything operators need to know to gain a CPC, including the law, safety requirements and vehicle maintenance.

Don’t get caught out - book your place on the next available course - 24 November 2008.

RoSPA Infocentre - Did you know...?

The RoSPA Infocentre – a library of information with archives going back 50 years – is available for your use whenever you need it.

There is a traditional library of books, journals, and articles for browsing or copying; a searchable online database, which is available 24/7; and highly qualified, knowledgeable staff on hand to point you in the right direction. You can call, email, or fax your query – and you’ll normally get a response on the same day, often within hours!

Whether for work-related information, examination revision, or simply curiosity (we have an archive of wartime-era posters), RoSPA’s Infocentre is there to help you.

And, if you are a RoSPA member, a major benefit is free and unlimited access to this invaluable service as part of your annual subscription! You will receive priority when placing queries, with your own dedicated helpline and email service; and you are able to borrow the publications in our library for limited periods. Members also receive a weekly Infocentre Alert, with the latest information on hot health and safety topics from the HSE.

Visit www.rospa.com/infocentre now, and find out how we can help you with whatever you need to know.

Training - Looking for a cost effective option?

For as little as £60 per delegate per day* RoSPA’s in-company training is an extremely cost effective option and has other added benefits too:

• Training is arranged at a time and venue of your choice
• Courses are tailored to meet your specific needs, so you don’t pay for unnecessary information or additional days training
• Team building for your employees, as they actively participate in the course, learning and working together

How does it work?
Following an initial discussion of your requirements, our dedicated in-company training team work with you to create a tailor-made syllabus to meet your needs. All of our open courses can be delivered ‘in-company’ and we also offer a range of specific topic related courses, for example:

• Asbestos Awareness
• DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations)
• Confined Space Awareness
• Risk Assessment (including Safe Systems of Work/Permits to Work)

*Based on a standard in-company course, at members' rates. Please note RoSPA charges per day, not per delegate.

Job flash - Associate Consultants

RoSPA is seeking generalist and specialist associates across the UK and Ireland to assist in delivering our increasingly successful open and in-company health & safety training and consultancy services.

Successful applicants will complement our existing multi-disciplinary team and we are looking for dynamic individuals with excellent communication skills and significant experience of how to make health and safety 'work' within organisations. Ideally CMIOSH you should be able to work without close supervision and be able to motivate organisations to achieve compliance through providing appropriate advice and guidance.

Specialist experience of auditing using HSG 65 based systems would be a distinct advantage in assisting us to drive forward our consultancy services.

Specialists with instructor level training in both object and people handling would also be welcomed.
To enable us to speak with you in detail please complete the Associate Consultant application form.

Home safety speaker profile - Professor Mike Kelly

Professor Mike Kelly,
Director of the Centre of Public Health Excellence
NICE

Mike is one of many high profile speakers who will be addressing delegates at RoSPA’s 2008 National Home Safety Congress, held in Blackpool on 11-12 November 2008.

Professor Kelly is a medical sociologist. At the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, he has led the development of the public health portfolio since 2005. This has included the public health guidance on the prevention and management of obesity, behaviour change,
maternal and child health, community engagement and physical activity and the environment.

Mike will draw on his extensive experience, speaking about NICE's programme for the prevention of accidental injuries to children on the second day of Congress.

For information on the full event programme and details about a range of delegate packages starting at just £153 + VAT please visit our website or book online.

Car seat laws – Big fall in child injuries

The number of children under 12 injured in car accidents in Great Britain fell by more than 1,000 in the first full year since the introduction of the new car seat law, according to figures released.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents welcomed the news as proof that the legislation was working and helping to reduce pain and suffering for children and their families.

For more information and RoSPA’s full response, please visit our press release pages.

Also available – visit RoSPA’s child car seat website.

New HSE guidance - Key seminar

Monday 20 October 2008, RoSPA Training Suite, Birmingham

To complement the joint HSE/IoD guidance on the leadership role of directors published last year, the Health and Safety Executive is launching new guidance on workforce involvement and consultation in health and safety. This highlights employers’ options for meeting their legal duties to consult workers and their representatives on health and safety matters, and it gives practical guidance on best practice.

On Monday 20 October 2008 RoSPA will hold two focused briefings at its Training Suite in Edgbaston, Birmingham. The briefings will explain the new guidance, help businesses to assess ‘where they are now’ on employee involvement, and identify opportunities for change.

Places are limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Spotlight - Manchester

Are you based in Manchester or the surrounding area?

If so, you could benefit from attending one or more of our acclaimed health and safety courses.

We offer a wide range of courses all over the UK, including the Manchester area, helping to support large and small businesses with their safety needs.

Forthcoming courses in the Manchester area:

Display Screen Ergonomics 13 November 2008
Manual Handling Trainer and Assessors 24 November 2008
Safety Representatives 01 December 2008
IOSH Managing Safely 19 January 2009

Don’t forget, discounted course fees are available for RoSPA members