HSC launches second round of WSA funding

A HSE Health and Safety Executive product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 2, 2004

Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission, has announced the opening of the second round of the Worker Safety Adviser (WSA) Challenge Fund.

Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), has announced the opening of the second round of the Worker Safety Adviser (WSA) Challenge Fund.

The fund, operated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will run between April 2005 and March 2007.

The aim of the fund is to inspire organisations to collaborate on projects that encourage and promote employees and their employers to work together to drive improvements in managing health and safety.

The scheme focuses on small firms and organisations that lack such arrangements.

Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to improve health and safety, support the work of a WSA to promote worker involvement and demonstrate the vitality of the partnerships they have established to achieve this aim.

Project North East (PNE) manages the WSA Challenge Fund on the HSE's behalf.

The application form and details of how to apply can be found at http://www.wsa-cf.org/.

Bill Callaghan said: "We want to build on the success of this year's projects.

"We have already seen enterprising projects having an impact, making worker involvement in health and safety happen.

"Increasing worker involvement has been shown to improve health and safety performance and is a key part of HSC's strategy.

"The WSA Challenge Fund is designed to help build partnerships that drive safety and health improvements.

"This is a great opportunity to get resources to help those who need them most - the employers and employees of small firms.

"We are again looking for innovative bids that show commitment to working together with partners and using WSAs as a lever for improvement".

The maximum grant available during the second round is GBP200,000 spread over two years (GBP100,000 for April 2005 to March 2006, followed by a further GBP100,000 for April 2006 to March 2007).

Up to GBP1million is available for each year.

There will be a level playing field with current projects competing against new bids based on the quality of their applications.

Partnerships applying for funding can include workers, trade unions, employers trade associations, local authorities, voluntary organisations, chambers of commerce, professional bodies and other organisations committed to working together.

An independent management board appointed by the HSE will assess applications.

Award winners for the second round of the Fund will be announced in March 2004, with funding commencing in 1 April 2005.

Originally announced by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in October 2003, the Fund will make available up to GBP3million over three years, from July 2004 to March 2007, for projects to drive improvements in occupational health and safety, in small businesses, by promoting and securing worker involvement through WSAs.

The first round of the WSA Challenge Fund ran from 31 March to 7 May 2004 and the winners were announced on 30 June 2004.

A WSA Pilot run in 2002 introduced new mechanisms for deploying safety representatives into small firms to act as WSAs; the success of the pilot contributed to the setting up of the fund.

Completed and signed application forms for the current round of awards should be sent to: Les Johnson, Business Support Services, Project North East, 7-15 Pink Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5DW, to reach him by Friday 21 January 2005.