The very nature of the woodworking and joinery manufacturing industry means that our professionals are exposed to known risks every day. From high-speed machinery to handheld precision tools, a lapse in concentration or a small mistake could have serious and lasting consequences. Beyond these obvious risks to health and safety, there are also a myriad of other factors to consider including noise, dust, vibration, slips and trips.
While the risk of injury to employees is mitigated as far as possible with tools and machinery, the inherent nature of working with wood as a raw material poses its own challenges. Each piece of wood is unique and can behave differently when being worked, with knots and changes to the grain giving the potential for snatch or kickback.
For BWF members and the wider industry, health and safety is constantly a top priority, but we must always be vigilant and strive for best practice.
THE IMPACT
The most immediate and distressing consequence to any health and safety issue is employee injury. In fact, the most common accident in the workplace 2022/23 reported by employers to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is slips, trips or falls on the same level, which accounts for 32% of reported injuries, compared to handling, lifting or carrying (17%), being struck by a moving object (11%) or falling from a height (8%). Given the number of day-to-day risks present in the workplace, the first duty of all employers is to provide an environment in which employees can work safely.
Workplace health and safety issues also have an impact on the business. The annual cost of work-related injury and ill health in 2021/22 was £20.7bn according to the HSE (not including long latency illness such as cancer), of which £13.1bn is attributed to new cases of work-related ill health and £7.7bn of cost relating to workplace injury.
Non-fatal injuries are the most common type of accident and can have a significant impact on a business’ operation. In 2022/23, 437,000 of self-reported workplace non-fatal injuries were absent from work for up to seven days, while 124,000 were absent for over seven days.
Beyond this, there is also a direct financial impact of breaking health and safety laws. In 2012 the HSE introduced the ‘fee for intervention’ cost recovery scheme where those who break health and safety laws are liable for the HSE’s costs, which can include inspection, investigation and taking enforcement action.
The total cost depends on the length of the investigation but is based on the HSE’s ‘fee for intervention’ of £174 per hour for 2024/25. Added to this is the impact to the business’ reputation and the longterm implications it could have on projects deadlines and orders.
The HSE actively targets “high risk” industries such as forestry and construction and throughout 2022/2023 the HSE targeted woodworking and joinery companies through its Dust Kills Campaign. The HSE are legally entitled to visit a business at any reasonable time with, or without, notice.
CHAMPIONING BEST PRACTICE
The legislation relating to health and safety is increasingly complex and requires businesses to uphold best practice at all times. The HSE regularly publish new information and looks to ensure that businesses are complying with all current health and safety law.
At the BWF, we are committed to improving health and safety awareness whilst helping our members comply with their health and safety legal requirements. By providing advice and guidance we can support our members to strive for best practice and keep their employees and business safe.
As part of our activity this year, we have refreshed our comprehensive ‘Health & Safety in the Woodworking Industry’ Manual to provide a single guide to the legislation, regulation and best practice for woodworking and joinery manufacture businesses.
Providing advice and guidance covering all key areas from accident reporting to COSHH and first aid provision, the manual will help all woodworking employers and management professionals meet the duties required of them under health and safety law. A dedicated technical telephone helpline is also available for BWF members to seek immediate advice specific to their circumstances, should it be needed.
With the majority of workplace accidents being preventable, all businesses in woodworking and joinery manufacture must put best practice for health and safety in the workplace at the top of the agenda. The BWF is fully committed to encouraging and supporting its members to achieve this in 2024 through our latest guidance documents, our industry events and through the Code of Conduct business audit.
The BWF Members Day in June, has a focus on health and safety, with guest speakers from the HSE, British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) and British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF). This event will provide members with an opportunity to hear about what an inspector finds when visiting a woodworking and joinery manufacturing company, occupational health requirements, as well as face fit testing demonstrations for the control of hazardous substances. Members Day also provides members with an opportunity to network with fellow members and share best practice within the sector.
The health and safety performance of BWF members is critical and, as such, is a core component of the BWF Code of Conduct. Setting the standards of quality of service, manufacture and sourcing for BWF members, the Code of Conduct is the rigorous set of standards of workmanship, company stewardship and environmental disciplines that all BWF members adhere to.
Holding ourselves to the highest possible standards is important as a sector, but for health and safety it is vital and ensures that our colleagues and businesses are safe and can thrive.
