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Did you know that 80% of accidents are caused by human error?

Employees need only make one correct decision preventing an accident on the back of training received, to make that training cost effective to their organisation.

Training Matters is a short guide, which explains why it is important for businesses to invest in health and safety training. It gives summary advice on areas of likely training need, how to get started and where to go for further information.

To access this invaluable advice, simply click here.

RoSPA members* can now freely download the member logo from the RoSPA website as part of their range of membership benefits.

Member organisations can clearly demonstrate their commitment to health and safety by placing the RoSPA member logo on their website and corporate letterheads.

To download your free RoSPA member logo visit the RoSPA Member Zone

Other benefits of RoSPA membership include:

To join RoSPA and start enjoying these member benefits please contact the Membership Department on 0121 248 2046 or visit Join RoSPA.

*This is not applicable to individual members

RoSPA’s Driver Development Training course just got better.

The premier driver training course can now offer delegates a nationally recognised BTEC qualification a preferred qualification by most employers and clients. On completion of a one day Driver Development course delegates can opt to add on the level 2 intermediate award for just £80 and will receive a BTEC certificate.

For a more flexible approach to learning that doesn’t require completion of extensive workbooks, this qualification draws upon practical experience, prior achievement and learning.

Upgrade to a BTEC qualification - Previous delegates* of RoSPA Driver Development or Defensive Driving courses can now be upgraded to gain the qualification, providing they can supply evidence of their attendance on the course in the last 3 years.

So go the extra mile and make your training really count.

AdRisk is a European project working to reduce injuries among young people aged 15-24 years.

This project campaigns for a safer environment for adolescents throughout Europe and promotes greater involvement of young people in creating environments that challenge their skills. AdRisk will help empower adolescents to make the right choices for themselves.

RoSPA is the English partner in the project and is co-ordinating a series of exercises to develop a map of injury prevention in England.

If your work involves injury prevention for young people aged 15-25 years in England, please help RoSPA demonstrate the good work being done by completing two simple questionnaires.

By completing both of these forms not only are you helping this project but also making your work known across the UK and Europe.

RoSPA Consultant Bernie Cerrino holds the prestigious NEBOSH Diploma, along with a BTEC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, a City and Guilds 7303 Further Education Teaching Certificate and an Institute of Acoustics Competence in Noise Assessment.

In addition to these qualifications, Bernie has hands on experience working with organisations to develop and implement Safe Systems of Work, conduct general and dynamic risk assessments, develop policies and procedures, and assist with accident investigations.

Bernie is also skilled in occupational health dust monitoring, portable appliance testing, testing and examination of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems, carrying out 18001 Audits, Noise Assessments and in company Health and Safety reviews.

Sounds useful? Along with fellow RoSPA consultants, Bernie is available to hire by the day, with no need for a long-term contract. So, if it sounds as though Bernie could assist your organisation, call RoSPA Consultancy on 0121 248 2076 or email consultancy@rospa.com.

RoSPA has welcomed the clear message sent to judges and magistrates that driving offences resulting in death are serious offences and should receive appropriate sentences.

Lengthy custodial sentences are recommended by the Sentencing Guidelines Council for cases involving prolonged, persistent and deliberate bad driving or where drivers are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. The use of mobile phones is also treated robustly with the Council advising that if an offender was distracted by a hand-held mobile phone when the offence was committed the offence will be treated as particularly serious.

Kevin Clinton, Head of Road Safety at RoSPA, said: 'RoSPA welcomes the new sentencing guidelines. They continue the process of the courts treating death on the road much more seriously, and send a clear message to us all, that driving in an anti-social, dangerous manner will not be tolerated'

'We also welcome the new offence of Causing Death by Careless Driving, with sentences of up to three years in prison. We agree that where a responsible driver made a single, momentary and inadvertent mistake (which any driver could make), this should not automatically result in a prison sentence. However, where the driver’s ‘carelessness’ is more culpable, then a prison sentence will be appropriate.


The full guidelines can be viewed at www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk.

Newspaper headlines increasingly suggest that popular events are being cancelled across the country because of a perceived increase in the health and safety 'red tape' associated with running them.

A recent example of where health and safety was mentioned as the reason for an event coming to an end was a children's amber hunt which had to be cancelled due to what the organiser called 'health and safety bureaucracy'. Robin Fournel, Hunt organiser, was reported as saying: 'Bureacuracy surrounding health & safety has just gone too far'.

Sometimes health and safety is used as the public reason for cancelling an event when there might be other factors at play behind the scenes.

RoSPA's view is that people should participate in exciting and engaging activities by making them only as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible.

RoSPA can help event managers and those responsible for planning events. Our new Risk Assessment for Event Organisers ensures that anyone involved with putting on events can do so safely, whilst still keeping them fun and challenging.

For more information visit www.rospa.com/events.

The HSE has released an updated version of A Guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, (RIDDOR). It brings the associated guidance up to date, particularly in relation to the changes in reporting arrangements and the need to use the Incident Contact Centre.

Other legislation changes have also been updated, including the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2007. Schedule 2 has also been revised to take into account the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005.

To order the latest version please call 0121 248 2108 or order online.

Due to popular demand, RoSPA’s regional course portfolio has expanded in the Newcastle area, allowing organisations in surrounding areas to benefit from first class training, without incurring unnecessary travel or accommodation costs and minimising time away from work.

Although limited, places are still available on the following courses in August:

Manual Handling Trainers and Assessors - 11 August 2008

This course - essentially three courses in one, can provide delegates with a full understanding of how to conduct a manual handling risk assessment as well as up to date principles of manual handling.

Safety Representatives - 4 August 2008

HSE encourages active workplace participation in managing safety as it can lead to large reductions in accident rates. Newly appointed or existing trade union/non trade union representatives looking to fill their role to maximum effect will benefit from attending this course.

Call 0121 248 2233 to book now or email training@rospa.com.