The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers' Federation (EMCEF) are to jointly develop the guide with the help of the European Commission.

Employers and employees of the paper and pulp sector will be involved in its development and, according to CEPI, it will then serve the industry as a source of information for further improvements.

Teresa Presas, CEPI managing director and chairperson of the European Commission's paper sector social dialogue, said that research undertaken by the non-profit-making organisation has already shown a declining rate in incidents.

According to its findings, the rate of accidents that caused an absence of more than three days has dropped from 45.3 per 1,000 people in 1999, to 18.6 per 1,000 in 2009.

Bernard de Galembert, CEPI forest and research director, said the practices discussed in the guide will address all the aspects of a pulp mill life, such as maintenance, handling and transport, daily operations, and health at work.

"The final product should be completed in 2011 and will be a report of these good practices with the aim to share the best experiences within the industry.

"Of course the industry acknowledges that more can be done and has given itself an aspirational target of "zero" accidents."

Tony Burke, Unite assistant general secretary, said: "This is an excellent first step for social dialogue in the papermaking industry across the EU.

"Health and safety is a major issue in the sector and anything that unions and employers can do with the help of the European Commission to minimise accidents and fatalities is vitally important."