Health and safety
The health and safety of the people working in the meat industry is important and businesses strive to protect individuals through risk assessment and proper controls.
We have put together a list of useful publications (downloadable as PDFs) and websites that deal specifically with the various aspects of health and safety in the meat processing industry.
Health and Safety Guidance Notes for the Meat Industry
The BMPA’s health and safety guidance notes for the meat industry have been created by representatives of our Health and Safety Committee and will assist businesses in protecting worker health and safety in our industry.
Health and Safety Executive – Food and drink manufacture website
The HSE have extensively revised their Food and Drink Manufacture website which also contains links to many other sources of information.
Managing slips, trips and falls – HSE campaign – “Shattered Lives”
The HSE is promoting their campaign entitled “Shattered Lives” which aims to assist employers in tackling one of the most common causes of injury within our sector.
For those companies wishing to run projects on reducing the risk of slips, trips and falls, HSE are offering assistance and can provide articles, materials and in some cases speakers. The campaign is supported by a website hosted by the HSE which also includes a number of very useful case studies.
Working in Great Britain from overseas
The HSE has launched a new series of website pages which provides information on a whole range of topics which will help overseas workers and their employers understand their roles and responsibilities under British health and safety law.
Most of the information has been translated into 14 languages and a number of HSE publications are now available in 30 different languages. There is also the facility with the HSE’s infoline service to make use of a translator, this is provided via a three way conversation facility and is available to cover 100 languages.
Your Health and Animals – A quick guide for those working in the meat industry
In 2007 the BMPA developed a booklet for employees whose jobs involve handling animals, particularly during the slaughter and dressing stages.
The booklet highlighted diseases which can be contracted from animals and that may present a hazard to abattoir staff. It was designed in a pocket book format for ease of use by abattoir employees or when consulting with their GPs. The booklet has now been reviewed and updated (September 2011), and you may wish to order the latest version for your employees. Copies are available on request from the BMPA offices (75p per booklet + vat and P&P), or download a free PDF copy.
Cattle Can Kill – Don’t let it be you
The HSE/Meat Trades Joint Working Party have discussed the issues surrounding safety within abattoir premises and also beyond the perimeter of the premises in the case of escaping animals and have produced a poster to be placed in lairages. You can download a poster, which highlights the potential hazards of working with cattle and provides a number of safety measures when unloading animals and also highlights the need for procedures should animals escape.