'STAY ON THE BALL' WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH AND SAFETY, URGES DENIS LAW
COI
HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE
E102:98 8 May 1998
'STAY ON THE BALL' WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH AND SAFETY,
URGES DENIS LAW
"Whether competing in the world of football or commerce, it is vital
to recognise the importance of health and safety," said Scottish
footballing legend Denis Law, as he presented awards at the European
Film and Multi Media Festival at the Edinburgh International
Conference Centre today. Hosted by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE), the Festival, one of the biggest UK Presidency events, is
aimed at those responsible for spreading the health and safety word
at work.
The former Scottish International said:
"As a player, my own health and safety was important - a few slips,
trips and falls maybe; and, one or two broken bones. But I had to
keep in good physical shape, wear the right personal protective
equipment and keep fit meet the demanding schedule of international
football. Managers and coaches are not much impressed with players
who spend more time on the bench and in the physio's room than on the
field of play. I don't think that managers in industry and commerce
are any different."
Also at the awards ceremony was Transport Minister Gavin Strang who
said:
"We have made health and safety a high priority for the UK
Presidency. The UK government is committed to high standards in the
workplace and to giving occupational health and safety a higher
profile across Europe. Every year around 6,000 people die in the EU
due to workplace accidents and thousands more of occupational
disease.
"I welcome the steps already taken by the Council of Ministers and
our Presidency on chemical agents and protecting workers from the
dangers of asbestos, and work is still underway on further important
protections. This Film and Multimedia Festival sets an excellent
example of the ways we can work together and make an important
contribution to improve working conditions throughout Europe.
Films and multimedia products were entered from the following
countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France,
Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the UK.
'No Second Chances', an HSE video on agricultural safety, triumphed
over 146 videos and 37 multimedia products from all over Europe to
win the Grand Prize. First prize in the Multimedia section went to
'Welding Fume Tutor', a product produced jointly by HSE and the
Welding Institute.
Other awards went to: Multimedia (special prize: CD-ROM 'Dig Dogs'
(Germany). Three second prizes: 'Ergonomie in Buro', 'Defensive
Driving', 'Capter - emergency for ships' captains'.
Seven winners won first prizes in the video category: 'Topfit im
Kreuz', Cordial Film, Germany; 'Dem Klarer Iversen', Tele Denmark;
'Tatort Baustelle', HVBG, Germany; 'Back in Action - how it works'
Human Focus International, UK; 'No Second Chances', HSE, UK; 'Quand
la main choisit son gant', INRS, France and 'Staying Healthy', HSE,
UK.
Five second prizes went to: 'Electricity Blues', AUVA, Austria;
'Un truc dans l'oeil', INRS France; 'Classe Branches', INRS, France;
'Lifelines', Northern Ireland Electricity Board and 'Ergonomie et
Prevention', INRS, France.
Note to Editors:
1. This is the third European Film and Multi Media Festival. The
first was held in Thessaloniki in 1992 and the second in Strasbourg
in 1995. HSE uses video and multimedia as a key component of its
publicity programmes and campaigns to reduce the number of accidents
and the incidence of ill health.
PUBLIC ENQUIRIES: write to:
HSE Information Centre, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ.
http://www.open.gov.uk/hse/hsehome.htm
Ends