RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : 2002

RoSPA is urging employers to give stress at work a higher profile in an effort to counter one of the biggest health problems facing business today. Around half a million people in the UK are said to have experienced work-related stress, anxiety or depression at a level that has made them ill. With an estimated 6.5 million working days lost to stress each year, Health and Safety Executive guidelines now urge employers to carry out stress risk assessments. There are also proposals for an approved code of practice for managing stress in 2003. Full Story»

Small firms and organisations are being given the chance to improve their health and safety management thanks to a scholarship offered by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Esso Petroleum Company Ltd. For the past decade the RoSPA/Esso Safety Scholarship has offered help to small businesses who do not have a health and safety officer. Full Story»

An urgent Jubilee weekend firework warning was issued by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today as new figures revealed a shock increase in the number of firework casualties. Accidents around Bonfire Night 2001 were 40 per cent up on the year 2000, and were the worst statistics since 1995, it has just been announced. Full Story»

A Londoner, who has campaigned to improve health and safety in the workplace for nearly 20 years, has been honoured by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Paul Reeve, of Ealing, has been presented with a Distinguished Service Award by RoSPA for his outstanding contribution to occupational safety. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today welcomed a new television advertisement in Scotland aimed at reducing drug-driving. The ad shows how impairment tests – such as walking in a straight line and balancing on one leg - are now being used effectively in Scotland to catch people driving under the influence of drugs. Full Story»

Organisations from the UK’s construction and construction engineering industries have been honoured by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents for their outstanding safety records over the past year. More than 350 construction firms have achieved recognition for good health and safety practice out of 1,000 RoSPA award winners over all. As well as their own sector honours, construction businesses scooped two Order of Distinction awards, 14 President’s Awards, 40 gold medals, 176 gold, 43 silver, 44 bronze and 17 merit awards. Full Story»

Five companies are celebrating winning prestigious RoSPA awards for the way they manage the safety of their fleets. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Award for Managing Occupational Road Risk covers fleets of all types, including company cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles. Full Story»

Safety experts will be told at a national conference next week that greater effort is needed if tough targets to reduce the number of work-related accidents are to be met. Sharpening the Focus on Health and Safety Performance is the theme of RoSPA’s Health and Safety at Work Congress at the NEC, Birmingham, from Monday to Thursday (May 13-16, 2002). Full Story»

Three new codes to cut the number of accidents involving company car and van drivers will be launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents at a seminar next month. RoSPA wants professional and trade associations, unions, local authorities, insurers, police and safety groups to sign up to the guidelines covering speed, driver fatigue and driver competence. Full Story»

Midlands pupils have had a hand in an award-winning safety project which could save children’s lives throughout the country. The lessons learned by youngsters from Woodgate Junior and Infant School, Birmingham, are featured on a website to provide a formula for others to follow. Full Story»