In our 16 May issue we mistakenly referred to the outdoor pursuits centre responsible for the corporate manslaughter of four teenagers as an “outward bound” centre. In fact, the centre referred to was not an outward bound centre. Only The Outward Bound Trust and their internationally licensed affiliates operate outward bound centres and outward bound is their registered trade mark for personal development training through outdoor pursuits. None of the trusts or its affiliates’ centres are connected with the deaths to which we referred nor any criminal charges consequent on them. We apologise for any damage to the trust’s reputation our mistake may have caused.
TUC hours debate
The TUC Congress opens this week in Glasgow with debates on Working Time regulations and calls for an increased minimum wage. Retail workers’ union Usdaw and broadcasting union Bectu are both calling for amendments to the Working Time law. Bectu argues that the 48-hour working week is a danger to employee health. Full report next week.
Meetings favoured
Face-to face briefings and meetings are the most effective way to communicate information to staff, a survey of 692 businesses and organisations has revealed. Of those employers questioned by the Industrial Society, 90 per cent claimed they preferred traditional meetings to pass on information. E-mail was quoted by 54 per cent of respondents and company intranets by 15 per cent.
HSE drive effective
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A Health and Safety Executive survey of 200 firms has revealed a high level of safety awareness in the construction industry. More than 40 per cent of health and safety managers questioned recognised the HSE’s Working Well Together campaign. The campaign’s web site was receiving around 1,200 hits per day by the end of July.
