RoSPA in the 1990s
1990 The 'Action on Accidents' report jointly published by RoSPA and National Association of Health Authorities called for health authorities to adopt a formal policy and strategy for accident prevention. RoSPA called for safer supermarket trolleys and a working party was set up to redesign this equipment. The 'Don't dive under 1.5' campaign to prevent serious injuries from plunging into shallow water was deemed a success as many authorities banned poolside diving. RoSPA campaigned for the fitting of rollover bars to new coaches. Yanbu Refinery in Saudi Arabia became the first overseas entry to reach the final stages of the Sir George Earle occupational safety and health trophy competition.
1991 HRH the Princess of Wales presented the RoSPA/Shell Good Practice in Safety Education Award. RoSPA responded to the Government's consultation on 'The Health of the Nation' and called for a much higher profile for accident prevention. RoSPA linked with the Consumers' Association and Department of Trade and Industry in a major campaign on DIY safety. After a five year RoSPA campaign the Government finally agreed to make it mandatory for domestic appliances to be sold with fitted plugs. The Society also campaigned for wider use of residual current devices (RCDs) to be used with all outdoor appliances to protect against electrocution. New building regulations required safety glazing to be fitted at low level, another success for a RoSPA campaign. A free copy of a report on the safety of school transport was sent to every school. The Fleet News Safety Award was presented to Bob Smalley, ROADA chief examiner by racing driver James Hunt, for the individual who had done most to raise standards of safety in the fleet industry during the year.
1992 RoSPA celebrated its 75th Anniversary at London's Guildhall in the presence of H.R.H. The Princess of Wales. "The Health of the Nation" White Paper cited accidents as one of five key areas for action. A British Standard for supermarket trolleys was finally agreed. RoSPA won the Fleet News award for driver training company of the year. RoSPA devised a code of practice for owners of bouncy castles, it also provided a fact sheet for the public following the 4,000 child casualties on the inflatables every year. Guidelines were produced on the safe use of portable goal posts. The innovative Quality Safety Audit was introduced for employers. Esso, the Ministry of Defence and the BBC were among the first to use the audit. "Accident Prevention and Public Health" was published to encourage public health physicians to discuss their role on accident prevention.
1993 RoSPA began to train minibus drivers following a spate of accidents. Together with the Royal Life Saving Society RoSPA published a guidance document called "Safety on British Beaches". Sector awards were introduced into the occupational safety and health awards scheme to recognise outstanding performance by a company within its sector of activity. RoSPA joined the Health of the Nation Task Force for Accident Prevention and also gave advice to the Health Directorate of the European Commission on its public health role in accident prevention.
1994 The RoSPA/City & Guilds 'Introducing Home Safety' training course was launched, it was the first such course ever developed. The Society managed a comprehensive review of child accident prevention activity in Scotland. Every chief road safety officer was sent a copy of the Code of Good Practice for Cyclist Training. A minibus driving test was launched for teachers, voluntary workers and other non-commercial drivers. Various organisations were helped to develop safety management systems for overseas leisure operators.
1995 RoSPA launched "Together safely - a whole school approach to health and safety". RoSPA influenced the legislative changes governing the fitting of seatbelts in minibuses and coaches. The campaign to ban bull bars continued. A water safety education pack was developed for schools.
1996 HRH the Duke of Gloucester opened RoSPA's new Headquarters at Edgbaston Park, Birmingham. RoSPA published its first ideas on the Management of Occupational Road Risk (MORR). RoSPA helped to achieve an amendment to BS0 - the standard for standards - to include reference to hazard identification and risk assessment as a prerequisite when developing product standards in future. A series of health and safety seminars were held for businesses run by and employing people from the 
ethnic communities. Stricter controls on certain powerful fireworks were called for. RoSPA trained the 24 trainers who were tasked with improving the standard of Dubai's 1,500 taxi drivers. The water and leisure safety team travelled the equivalent of six times round the world inspecting hotel pools and balconies from Mexico to the Mediterranean. RoSPA provided consultancy on the road and parking layout for the Bluewater development in Kent.
1997 The first Scottish Occupational Health and Safety Awards Presentation Dinner and Congress was held in Glasgow. The first National Home Safety Strategy was published by RoSPA. Detailed responses were given to the health Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation". RoSPA joined the European Public Health Alliance and the Consumers in Europe Group to take the accident prevention message into the corridors of the European Commission. The first guidance document was produced on managing occupational road risk. RoSPA called for log books for novice drivers.
1998 RoSPA launched its website www.rospa.com RoSPA carried out research with Aston University into the dangers of using mobile phones while driving. RoSPA began the LASER project - learning about safety by experiencing risk - to evaluate the growing number of out-of-school safety schemes for children. The only database of product recalls in the country was established. A guide for childminders was distributed to 125,000 people. Guidance on safety at inland water sites was published. The Little Book of Home Safety was distributed to 70,000 homes in Scotland.
1999 Car manufacturer Toyota joined forces with RoSPA for a three-year "S'cool to Be Safe " national campaign to work in schools with 7-11 year olds examining a variety of accident problems. RoSPA created an advanced driving test for scooter riders . New offices in Cardiff and Belfast as well as the new Skills Training Centre at Gravelly Park, Birmingham were all opened. RoSPA introduced a MORR course for fleet managers and health and safety advisers. RoSPA achieved Investors in People status. Lord Davies of Oldham, RoSPA's deputy president, introduced a Bill in the House of Lords seeking to ban the use of hand held mobile phones while driving.
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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