RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : 2003

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today launched a new document to cut accidents involving company car and van drivers. Managing Occupational Road Risk – The RoSPA Guide will help businesses and organisations adapt to recent guidance from the Health and Safety Executive and the Department for Transport on driving for work. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today launched a new website - www.saferfireworks.com - aimed at reducing the number of firework injuries in Northern Ireland. Last year, 38 people were injured by fireworks in the province, over the Halloween period. Nearly 75 per cent of these were males, and most were under 20 years old. Full Story»

Ciba Specialty Chemicals Plc - Coating Effects of Paisley have won Scotland’s top occupational health and safety award for the second year running. They were among nearly 80 Scottish businesses and organisations honoured at the RoSPA Scotland Occupational Health and Safety Awards, sponsored by RMC, at the Hilton Hotel, Glasgow, last night. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has honoured a specialist in playground safety for his outstanding contribution to health and safety in the playground industry. Peter Heseltine of Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, received a RoSPA Distinguished Service Award last night (September 11) in Glasgow. The presentation was part of the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards, sponsored by RMC. Full Story»

Employers and fleet bosses in Northern Ireland are to be given a special briefing on new Health and Safety Executive guidance for organisations in the rest of the UK about dealing with the safety of company car and van drivers. The RoSPA seminar will also look at what companies need to do to prepare for legislation on the use of mobile phones while driving. Full Story»

Scottish safety experts will be told the shocking toll of drink and drugs on business tomorrow. John Griffiths, a consultant on promoting health in the workplace, will tell delegates at the RoSPA Scotland Safety and Health at Work Congress that 60 per cent of workplace fatalities are drink related. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today called for help in averting another summer of drowning deaths after the heat-wave led to a catalogue of tragedies. RoSPA said lessons must be learned quickly if there was not to be a repeat of the accidents seen at almost all types of water in recent months. Full Story»

A new guide to help people who drive for voluntary organisations to stay safe on the road has been produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Many voluntary organisations provide road transport services in their communities as well as having vehicles needed for their day-to-day operations. In addition, some volunteers use their own vehicles. Full Story»

A roadshow aimed at reducing the number of injuries and deaths caused by faulty and misused electric blankets will be touring Northern Ireland in September. Organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, its main target will be elderly people, some of whom use electric blankets as a cheap source of heating. Electric blankets cause between 800 and 1,000 fires in the UK each year, with nearly 20 deaths and 200 injuries. Most of the causalities are over 60. The roadshow will provide free safety checks on electric blankets and give tips on their correct use. Full Story»

RoSPA is calling on Scotland’s businesses to adopt a “team approach” to tackle work-related accidents and ill-health, which are costing the Scottish economy over half a billion pounds a year. Every year in Scotland there are over 12,000 injuries connected with work and about 174,000 people believe they have health problems caused by their jobs, leading to 2.2 million lost working days. Full Story»