LOCAL GUIDE DOGS TEAM NET EU HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARD

12.00.00am GMT Fri 29th Feb 2008

A long EU campaign to tackle common aches and pains in the workplace has culminated in an award for good practice being given to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association's nationwide Health and safety Team, based in Leamington Spa.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as backache, affect 1 million people in the UK and many believe they are caused or made worse by work. Discomfort and injury wreak havoc with employee productivity and attendance.

Local Euro-MP Liz Lynne, who is Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee and well as Vice President of the All-Party Disability Intergroup, welcomed the award, saying:

"This is great news for a charity that provides a lifeline to people across the country, showing also that local people can set an example to the rest of Europe about health and safety in the workplace.

"Musculoskeletal disorders are currently the biggest cause of work absence in almost all European countries, so more needs to be done to prevent them. It is unacceptable that, apart from the obvious financial cost, these complaints do immeasurable damage to so many people's health, damaging their employability, quality of life and in the longer-term, their standard of living.

"Government, employers, employees and safety representatives need to work together to find enduring solutions through adhering to existing regulation and sharing best practice."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) findings in August 2006 some two million workers suffer ill health caused or made worse by work, costing the UK 28 million working days per year. Musculoskeletal disorders affected some one million people who believed they were caused or made worse by work. Work-related stress was the next biggest category with 500,000 people. The HSE is the UK Focal Point for the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work's 'Lighten the Load' campaign ran during 2007, comprising a range of activities and events across the EU and culminating in an award ceremony in Bilbao on the 26th of February 2008, where nine organisations were awarded for good practice, of which two were British. More information can be found at: http://ew2007.osha.europa.eu/