Workplace Report December 2005

Health & safety news

Union action reduces accidents at paper mills

Amicus professional union has helped slash accident rates at a paper company in Kent.

Amicus convener Gary Seager and safety rep Peter Goatham, who both work at St Regis Paper, have helped to reduce accident rates by 63% and improved health and safety at the company.

Two meetings are held every year at which safety reps and shop stewards from across St Regis's six paper mills are brought together with supervisors and managers to discuss and implement health and safety strategies.

"We would like to see other companies adopt this approach to health and safety," said Amicus official Bud Hudspith.