Health and Safety hunts DM agency

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is in talks with several direct marketing agencies about a project to reduce the number of injuries in the workplace.

It is understood that COI Communications has issued the brief and will hold pitches at the end of the month.

Earlier this year, the HSE – a public-sector body funded by the Department of Work and Pensions – appointed Zenith Optimedia to handle media planning and buying for a &£6m project to change behaviour in the workplace (MW May 12). It is thought that the agency pitched against Manning Gottlieb OMD and Starcom MediaVest to win the business.

In February, the HSE handed its &£3m advertising account to CheethamBell-JWT. Last year Marketing Week revealed that the HSE was reviewing the account out of McCann Erickson Manchester (MW April 29, 2004). CheethamBell pitched against BDH/TBWA and McCann Erickson Manchester.

CheethamBell’s brief included an advertising campaign to support the HSE’s priority programmes, such as workplace stress; health and safety in agriculture and construction; and safety from falls.

The HSE is responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work in the UK. The government organisation works alongside the Health and Safety Commission, which appoints the HSE, to ensure that risks in the workplace are contained by regulation.