About - Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum

Representatives from the waste management and recycling industry have come together to form the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) forum. 

WISH members include representatives from HSE, main trade associations, professional associations, trade unions, recycling organisations and national and local government bodies involved in waste management and recycling.

The aim of WISH is to identify, devise and promote activities to improve industry health and safety standards. 

WISH is a multi-party forum made up of organisations representing the waste and recycling industry. Its purpose is to provide information, identify solutions and stimulate action across the industry to ensure the health, safety and well-being of those working in the industry and those affected by its activities. It works by consensus and partnership, promoting good practice, sharing ideas and solutions.

Traditionally WISH has worked to identify and drawn up solutions and guidance to health and safety issues within the industry. This has subsequently been published as WISH endorsed guidance on the HSE website.

WISH will continue to promote, publicise, facilitate and bring about implementation of the actions that can reduce workplace accident and occupational ill health incidence rates.

The WISH forum: Commitment to competence, is designed to support the industry in raising staff competency levels. 

It is hoped that this will help to reduce accidents and occupational ill health.

This HSE 'Commitment to Competence' was written in consultation and with the support of the Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum. The WISH Forum is a committee formed of representatives from the waste management and recycling industry. 

It consists of representatives from the HSE, main trade associations, professional associations, trade unions, recycling organisations and national and local government bodies involved in waste management and recycling. 

Traditionally WISH has worked to identify and drawn up solutions and guidance to health and safety issues within the industry. This has subsequently been published as WISH endorsed good practice guidance on the HSE website. 

The first WISH Forum Strategy was launched in January 2009, and has been regularly updated since then to reflect current issues and priorities. 

No single scheme or programme is likely to be suitable for all; it is expected that the range of activities practised by individuals; representative organisations and individual employers will vary greatly.