Business

The Health and Safety Executive's Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee (PABIAC) has launched the second phase of its strategy for improvements in health and safety performance in the papermaking, corrugated packaging and recovered paper sectors over the next three years.

The strategy, Making a difference 2008-11, was prepared by HSE, the CBI and TUC, which form the PABIAC partnership.

It was developed following consultation with executives, managers, trade unions and employee safety representatives in the industry.

The strategy sets out specific and ambitious targets for reducing annual injury incidence rates from the current figure of around 1,170 per 100,000 employees to less than 850 per 100,000 employees by 2011.

Another objective will see companies having to demonstrate a continuously improving health and safety management performance against the Corporate Health and Safety Index or PABIAC self assessment tool.

James Barrett, head of HSE's manufacturing sector, said: "This strategy will help encourage those companies who have yet to show real progress to make a start on the road to improvement and will encourage those who have already made good progress to maintain their momentum.

"The targets support HSE's own injury, ill health and days lost reduction programme and are a good example of our commitment to working in partnership with those who are able to deliver the improvements," he said.

The strategy is available here.