Health, Safety and Environment

European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2008 and 2009

The theme of the European Safety and Health at Work Week for the next two years is Risk assessment. This year it will run from the 20 - 24 October 2008 and 19 - 23 October 2009.

This two-year campaign is intended to promote the benefits of completing and implementing a risk assessment. Risk Assessment is something that we do subconsciously during the course of our every day life, and yet when people are asked to formalise the process in work situations, despite it being a requirement since 1993, they are often less than proficient at doing it.

In Openreach a significant number of incidents are a direct result of poor risk assessment. The campaign in BT will therefore emphasise that on-site risk assessment is a dynamic process, without which, as the accident record shows, people get hurt.

European Safety and Health Week in BT

Improving awareness of the importance of risk assessment is something that both the company and the BT Unions are fully committed. As in previous years, all BT Group lines of business will be working jointly with Union Safety Representatives from CWU and Connect to highlight the importance of good risk assessment in the prevention of workplace injuries.

This year there will be a questions and answers activity, and there will be a specific focus on risk assessment in relation to:

• Display Screen Equipment
• Climbing and work at height
• Slips, trips and falls

There will be three distinct stages to this year's European Safety and Health Week in BT:

1. From the 6 - 17 October 2008 there will be a survey comprising of questions and answers, open to all BT employees regarding their understanding about risk assessment.
2. During the week itself, from 20 - 24 October 2008, all those who have a responsibility for the completion of risk assessments on working at height, climbing, Display Screen Equipment and slips, trips and falls, will make a concerted effort to complete risk assessments, and all line managers will discuss the importance of risk assessment at one to ones and team meetings.
3. From the 27 October to 7 November 2008, another survey, comprising again of questions and answers, will be available for employees to complete. This survey will enable both BT and the BT Unions to review the effectiveness of the campaign.

Further information regarding risk assessment in BT can be found in the health and safety handbook under:

• Display Screen Equipment - SFY/HSH/C020
• Access Systems - SFY/HSH/D030
• Working at Height in a Mobile Elevating Work Platform - SFY/HSH/D039
• Climbing Practices - SFY/HSH/D041