The initiative has been introduced because recent health checks on over 200 BPIF platinum members highlighted room for improvement.

Its launch, during European health and safety week, comes less than a month after the federation rolled out its environmental assessment scheme (PrintWeek, 27 September).

Dale Wallis, the BPIFs national health, safety and environment adviser, said: We want to encourage all printing companies to ensure that their practices are up to scratch before they receive a visit from the Health & Safety Executive, which appear to be occurring with increasing frequency.

Consultancy development manager Graham Arundell also said that printers with inadequate risk assessment policies were facing greater pressure from insurance companies as market conditions became tougher.

Small- to medium-sized firms most commonly had health and safety issues to address, added Wallis.

The scheme will tackle areas including risk assessment, control of substances hazardous to health (COSH), manual handling, noise, and health and safety training.

Arundell added: All companies have individual needs, ranging from people that dont have competently trained staff, to COSH.

Therefore, the scheme, which starts from 1,250 for a continuous assessment and monitoring package, also includes individual modules costing 335 each. BPIF members receive a 12% discount.

BPIF chief executive Michael Johnson said the initiative would add real value to members businesses.

Dale Wallis is pictured.

Story by Gordon Carson