March 21, 2005—The UK’s Health and Safety Commission (HSC) announced 11 award winners from the second round of the Workers’ Safety Adviser (WSA) Challenge Fund. The aim of the fund is to increase worker involvement and consultation in workplace safety and health initiatives. Successful projects are based on organizations working in partnerships to generate and improve collaboration between employers and workers in small firms.
The second-round winners are from a wide range of industries, including the construction, hospitality, printing, retail, and voluntary sectors. Project partners include trade unions, trade associations, local authorities, primary care trusts, voluntary organizations, and business organizations.
Each project has been awarded between 44,000 and 99,822 to engage and enthuse employers and workers alike, through the activities of the Workers’ Safety Advisers they employ, to establish collaborative environments in which to drive through improvements in occupational health and safety.
Increasing worker involvement has been shown to improve health and safety performance and is a key part of the HSC strategy. Great Britain loses over 39 million workdays through work related accidents and ill health each year.
For more detailed information on the Challenge Fund, or HSC’s Statement on Worker Involvement and Consultation, visit HSC.
