“Clean Air?-Take Care!”
October 1st 2008 Following the successful "It's in your hands" campaign, targeted at reducing workrelated dermatitis, the BSIF and the HSE are now planning the "Clean Air?- Take Care!" campaign to increase awareness of the need for protection against the inhalation and ingestion of hazardous substances. In industrial situations it is not always possible to avoid exposure to these chemicals and the use of respiratory protection is the practical solution.
Breathing-in toxic materials at work can cause asthma, cancer and damage to various parts of the body. Apart from affecting the respiratory tract, hazardous chemicals can damage the nervous, reproductive and urinary systems. Because of this, many people live with pain, discomfort, shortness of breath, wheezing and birth defects.
Employers have been prosecuted for failing to take adequate steps to prevent or minimise the exposure to toxic chemicals and materials. Millions of pounds are being paid out to victims in compensation. Apart from the consequential increases in insurance premiums, smaller companies suffer disruption because key people are on sickness absence and need to be given lighter duties whilst convalescing
It is estimated that BSIF member companies make 50,000 impacts every day on client companies while carrying out their usual supply activities and the HSE recognises that this is an ideal mechanism to spread the word to SMEs as well as larger organisations. "The important aspect is that the message is simple, must be consistent and may not be directly linked to the commercial process to satisfy the requirements of joint activities with a government department" said a BSIF spokesperson. "The fact that the message is essentially from the HSE adds credibility and enhances the way in which it is received. A winwin situation".
The next stage will be for the BSIF - HSE Campaign Working Group to engage with other industry stakeholders to maximise the effects of the campaign when it is launched in May next year. More articles from BSIF Enterprise: | 
