At the opening of a major health and safety conference in Armagh, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey, urged everyone to play their part in improving health and safety at work.

Sir Reg said: “Employers, who as the creators of risk, naturally have the greatest responsibility for managing and controlling risk. However, the involvement of others such as employees, health and safety practitioners and professionals, trade unions and safety representatives is also critical.”

The conference, which was themed ‘Together We’ll Make It Better’ was organised by a consortium of health and safety partners led by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Northern Ireland Safety Group. The event aims to help reduce the unacceptable costs of failing to manage health and safety in the workplace.

At the conference, the HSENI launched their corporate plan which outlines the organisation’s strategic focus for 2002-2005.

Highlighting the importance of HSENI’s work, Sir Reg said: “It is alarming to report that preliminary findings from a recent study commissioned by HSENI report the costs of work related injuries and ill health in Northern Ireland is approaching £500 million each year.

“HSENI’s Corporate Plan sets out how it will tackle the priority issues that are contributing to these unacceptable financial and personal costs. The Plan is forward looking and challenging. It recognises that any impact we might make in reducing the costs of work related injury and ill health will only come about through partnership working.”

HSENI Chairperson Liam McBrinn said that the plan sets out how the HSENI will work with a range of partners over the next three years to help reduce reductions in injuries, ill health and costs.

He added: "Of particular note will be our contribution to developing a cost-cutting, long-term workplace health strategy. This is an exciting development that will be closely allied with the new public health strategy, 'Investing in Health', which has clearly identified the workplace as a priority setting for tackling health issues and health inequalities.”

(SP)