The plan, a joint partnership between the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) forum, will be published in April.

It will look to address all areas of health and safety including leadership, competence, worker involvement and support for small businesses.

The move has been welcomed by several key figures, including Viridor’s corporate responsibility & regulatory director Simon Catford who warned the industry would be “judged by its actions” by future generations.

“The waste and recycling industry can be in no doubt that it has a long and difficult journey ahead if it is to reduce its poor accident record,” he said.

Echoing this sentiment, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) president John Skidmore said that participants needed to be in for the long haul.

“The industry’s record is not good. We are the leaders in the industry and we have to do something about it. We can’t leave it others. We all have individual and collective responsibility.”

The blueprint was agreed following a recent summit hosted by HSE and WISH on the issue.

Maxine Perella

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