This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Descienden un 24% los accidentes en el sector papel en 2012

The paper industry has been developing an ambitious sectoral plan of PRL

Accidents down 24% in the paper sector in 2012

Drafting Interempresas16/07/2013

Accidents of the pulp and paper sector has experienced a decline of 24% in the incidence rate in 2012 and 20% in the frequency rate over the previous year, according to the annual study Aspapel carried out between all of the sector's production centres.

The downward trend is also held at the time: the (accidents with low per thousand employees) incidence rate stood at 25.1, with a decrease of 62% in the last decade, and frequency rate (accidents with low per million hours worked), which in 2012 was 11.8, descended in the past ten years by 59%.

The severity rate (natural low days per thousand hours worked), which decreased by 29% last year and 52% in the last decade, has also broken in recent years its previous fluctuant tendency to reduce steadily. And also descends accidents indicator without low in the sector (general frequency rate), whose stagnation in the period 2004-2009 stating, in the analysis of the situation of the sector in 2010 (diagnosis + 5PRL), as an important warning signs.

Since 2005 there have been nine sectoral prevention and projects two diagnoses, with a broad and active participation of factories in the sector

Paper factory.

The decline sustained the accident is a direct result of the involvement of the whole sector at all levels in the implementation of a real culture of prevention, the prevention work developed by each of the companies, both through an ambitious sectoral programme of occupational risk prevention with great participation of the factories in the sectorwhich complements and supports those individual actions.

Paper factory.

The sectoral programme of PRL

The program began in 2003 with setting demanding targets and the development of a comprehensive diagnosis of the situation, to detect aspects for improvement and establishing the plan of actions. From 2005 he was working on in key aspects such as management system, the guarding of machinery, training, control of the main risks of the sector and safe behaviour measures.

In the past eight years, has developed a series of projects that have been addressing these key aspects: Guide model prevention plan (2005), Safety Manual paper machinery (2006), technical assistance for the implementation of the two previous projects (2007-2008), audiovisual catalogue of preventive measures and critical situations (2009), Manual for the observation of certain behaviors (2010), Manual for the safety in handling and storage of raw materials and finished product (2011), Manual of the preventive resource (2011) and analysis of ergonomic hazards in the paper industry (2012). He is currently working on a 'Manual' for the evaluation of psychosocial risks in the sector, that helps companies in the choice of the most appropriate method of evaluation.

Paper factory.

2012 / 2011: the incidence rate drops 24%, 20% frequency and gravity 29%

Every five years is carried out a reassessment, so that in 2010 was held the ' diagnostic + 5PRL', in order to assess the situation of the sector 5 years after the start up program.

Aspapel is aware of the need to continue working on the improvement of the prevention of occupational risks and support companies - especially small and medium - in improving prevention management systems, training of workers and the operational control of the risks.