£100k grant to find 'safety champions' (From Gazette & Herald)

£100k grant to find 'safety champions'

SCORES of businesses in the tourist industry in Ryedale are set to benefit from a £100,000 grant to give help and advice on health and safety.

Scarborough Enterprise Agency, which covers the whole of North Yorkshire and York, has been awarded the money by the Workers' Safety Advisers' Challenge Fund, said its leader, Keith Kaye.

The grant is for a 12-month period and the project will be known as Safe to Serve. It will be delivered in partnerships with other enterprise agencies in Whitby, Harrogate, Craven and Bedale.

Mr Kaye said: "By law, employers must consult with all their employees on health and safety matters. The Safe to Serve project aims to improve the process of consultation between employers and employees by encouraging the appointment of safety champions within the workplace".

The Scarborough Agency has centres in Auborough Street, Cayley Court and the Sitwell Centre and its new venture will see its officers working with hotels, public houses and clubs throughout North Yorkshire.

Mr kaye said: "Our aim is to help businesses which have perhaps not caught up with the legislation and we want to encourage workers themselves to get involved in the health and safety process."

This year the agency is celebrating its 20th anniversary and over the years it has helped hundreds of businesses in Ryedale as well as the rest of the county for which it holds the tourism skills brokerage.

Updated: 14:41 Wednesday, March 29, 2006