In 2004/05, there were more than 655,000 incidents of violence at work in England and Wales, which included 317,000 assaults and 339,000 threats*. Advice on reducing the risk of incidents of violence in the workplace is just one of a number of topical issues to be addressed during Blyth Valley Safer Working Towns initiative, launched today (5th June) and running from until 9 June, 2006.

A week long programme of activities has been prepared by the Health and Safety Executive and Blyth Valley Borough Council, with help from a number of partners and stakeholders, to help businesses and employees across the borough find out how to make their workplace safer by adopting good health and safety practices.

In addition to offering advice on reducing violence at work, good practice seminars and sessions will be held on a range of issues including safe working at height, stress management, workplace transport, workplace dermatitis and skin care.

The Safer Working Towns initiative is an idea developed by HSE and local authorities to encourage businesses and employees to become more aware of health and safety and improve their workplaces - achieving long term improvements in the workplace, with fewer workplace accidents and less time lost through ill health.

Dave Newey, General Store Manager of Sainsburys in Cramlington welcomed the opportunity to find out more about dealing with violence in the work place. He said:

"We do have an issue in this store when it comes to dealing with the new Challenge 21 initiative where staff are required to challenge anybody who looks under the age of 21 who may be attempting to purchase inappropriate goods. When asked for ID, people often get aggressive and that will not be tolerated by me or my staff."

Pam Waldron, HSE's Head of Operations for the North East said:

"HSE has been working with key partners to address and reduce the number of incidents of violence at work, which can be dangerous, stressful and damaging to peoples' health as well as businesses because it could affect staff morale, and, in the worst case scenario, staff turnover.

"The Blyth Valley Safer Working Towns initiative, which is the first in the North East, is an ideal opportunity to offer advice on this and many other aspects of creating a safer, healthier working environment for people in Blyth and the surrounding areas."

A total of 28 individual events, with support from other partner organisations including Isis Property Services, Northumbria Police and the fire services have all contributed to the Blyth Valley Safer Working Towns programme of events, co-ordinated by the borough council.

Colin Long, principal environmental officer at Blyth Valley Borough Council, said:

"It has been a tremendous achievement organising this varied programme of events, but it was important that we covered as many sectors as possible. By working together in this way, with the common goal of creating a safer working environment for people in Blyth Valley will benefit employers and employees alike as less time should be lost through work place accidents and injuries."