RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : 2003

A crucial seminar to help fleet bosses deal with imminent HSE guidance on employers’ duties for managing the safety of their company car and van drivers is being staged by RoSPA. It will also look at what companies need to do to prepare for the new legislation on the use of mobile phones while driving. Full Story»

Trainee teachers are to be given lessons in risk education following a series of widely publicised accidents involving children, particularly on school trips. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Health and Safety Executive are teaming up with the University of Central England to produce a pilot scheme to incorporate risk management in Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes. Full Story»

Following a spate of drownings in the last few days, RoSPA today issued water safety warnings to people preparing to head off on holiday at home and abroad. The school holidays start in many areas this weekend and the Society is worried there will be more tragedies if people do not follow basic safety advice. Full Story»

A new website from RoSPA will help organisations to prove they take health and safety seriously by capitalising on the internet to show off their good work. The site - www.gopop.org.uk - has all the background a business needs to make use of the web as a valuable means of demonstrating their improving health and safety performance. Full Story»

RoSPA wants fleet bosses to do more to tackle drinking and driving after a new report revealed many company drivers don’t realise the dangers of driving after a heavy night’s drinking. An RAC report has shown that drivers do not perceive “morning-after motoring” as being as dangerous as “same-day” drinking. Research showed company drivers were more likely than private motorists to see driving after drinking heavily the night before as less dangerous. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Esso Petroleum Company Ltd have presented three employees from small businesses and organisations with prestigious safety awards. The three winners of the RoSPA/Esso Scholarship attended a ceremony at the House of Lords yesterday. The winners were: Jill Griffiths, Standards and Services Development Officer for Age Concern, Bradford; Tracey Herrick, Assistant Safety Adviser for Centex UK Ltd, Warrington; and Timothy Harrington, Health and Safety/Quality Engineer for MBC Metal Powder, Birmingham. Full Story»

The fall in the number of children and cyclists killed and injured on Britain’s roads announced today showed that measures such as safety cameras and traffic calming were working, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said. Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said it was “great news” that all road casualties had fallen by three per cent in 2002 compared with 2001, and that deaths and serious injuries were down by the same rate to 39,407. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today welcomed the Government’s decision to ban the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving, but warned that motorists should not start using hands-free sets thinking they are safe. Research has shown that whether the equipment is hand-held or hands-free, talking on a phone makes drivers four times more likely to have an accident. Ideally, the Society would like drivers prohibited from using hands-free phones as well. Full Story»

The major impact of children’s accidents on Scottish families, society and agencies will be highlighted at a seminar in Glasgow on Tuesday (June 24) as part of Child Safety Week. The effects of an accident can last a lifetime, and more than 160 professionals working with children and their families will meet at the Quality Hotel Central to raise awareness of the seriousness of the problem. Full Story»

A major campaign to reduce the number of Welsh children suffering burns and scalds will be launched tomorrow (Tuesday, June 17) by a woman who was badly scalded as a toddler. Thousands of posters and coasters in Welsh and English will be distributed throughout the principality to highlight the dangers of hot drinks, saucepans, teapots, kettles and baths. There are particular concerns about youngsters who pull hot drink on top of themselves from tables. Full Story»