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News release

30 September 2010 - NR 38/10

Safety DVD launched to cut airside accidents

A new training DVD was launched today to help cut the number of injuries among baggage handlers and other airside workers.

Launched at RAF Hendon Museum by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the Airport Airside Safety Induction DVD will be offered to airport operators, airlines, baggage handing agents and other airline service providers nationwide.

IOSH’s Aviation and Aerospace Group commissioned the film to help workers, in particular new or temporary staff, become more ‘risk savvy’ about potential hazards airside.

There were more than 1,600 airside accidents in the UK in 2007/08, according to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures.

Aviation and Aerospace Group chairman Paul McKenzie said: “Airside areas at airports are potentially hazardous places for any worker who has not had the proper training and advice.

“Indeed, you can see from the HSE’s own figures that hundreds of staff, many of them temporary, are getting injured every year airside.

“We think this free DVD can only help airports and airlines improve health and safety systems for their workers and cut those statistics.”

The DVD, commissioned by IOSH as part of its research and development fund, is the first of its kind and has drawn praise from the HSE and Civil Aviation Authority.

IOSH teamed up with East Midlands Airport-based operator bmi to film the DVD, which includes advice on security passes, aircraft and hazards to look out for when refuelling.

Bmi health, safety and environmental manager Keith Merrie, an IOSH member, said:”Bmi welcome this DVD with open arms. As one of the UK’s leading airlines, we endeavour to ensure all staff are fully aware of the hazards of working at airside.

“IOSH’s airside safety DVD will be used as part of our rigorous health and safety training strategy, with the aim of making staff more risk savvy and thus reducing the likelihood of accidents at airside.”

The Airport Airside Safety Induction DVD has been filmed as a generic health and safety DVD providing basic health and safety advise to all those who work at airside.

Sponsors of the DVD are Connaught, BALPA and Günzburger Steigtechnik.

The DVD is available free of charge directly from IOSH’s Aviation and Aerospace Group. To request a FREE copy of the DVD (for those who work in the industry) e-mail our Networks team.

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Notes for editors:

IOSH is the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 40,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.