21.02.2024

Make UK has partnered with personal safety technology market leaders, Peoplesafe, to protect the manufacturing industry’s workers.

A new partnership with Peoplesafe will build on Make UK’s existing health and safety expertise to provide Make UK members with direct access to cutting-edge personal safety technology, whilst offering the highest-level expertise and guidance around establishing in-house employee safety programmes.

Representing manufacturers throughout the United Kingdom, Make UK works at every level to ensure the UK manufacturing sector performs and grows. As it stands, manufacturing accounts for almost one in five employee injuries and fatalities in the workplace. Figures from 2021 show that the HSE fined UK-based manufacturing firms more than £8 million for health and safety breaches.

There were 10,382 non-fatal injuries and 15 fatalities in the manufacturing industry in 2022/23, with slips, trips, and falls accounting for 24% of non-fatal injuries. Make UK sees lone working as a significant concern as it can increase the risk and severity of any accidents at work.

According to recent estimates, there are around eight million lone workers in the UK, making up a significant 22% of the country’s total working population. Despite this, a recent survey of lone workers and occupational safety executives uncovered a significant communication problem around what safety measures are in place for these workers. 97% of companies have formal policies in place to protect lone workers but one in five lone workers are unaware of these policies. This suggests more needs to be done to provide lone workers with the equipment and comprehensive training they need to work safely.

Make UK’s partnership with Peoplesafe aims to support manufacturing and engineering, businesses in fulfilling the obligation to better protect workers.

Chris Newson, Environment, Health and Safety Director at Make UK says: “The partnership brings together the best of both organisations in one accessible package. Employee safety must be top priority in any manufacturing business and our partnership with Peoplesafe will provide all Make UK members with access to the most up-to-date guidance on lone worker safety best practice, alongside the most cutting-edge personal safety technology.” 

Naz Dossa, Peoplesafe CEO and BSIA Chair of the Lone Worker Group, comments: “Peoplesafe is not just about providing tech solutions. We want to help tackle the problem at source and it is our continuing aim to amplify the issue of lone worker personal safety in the manufacturing sector. Many employers still underestimate the impact that providing 24/7 safety and peace of mind brings, and by working with Make UK to improve levels of lone worker safety across the manufacturing industry, we hope to set a standard that eventually becomes the basic requirement for any employer.”

The partnership will be launched at the upcoming Manufacturing Conference, taking place on 27 February at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster.