How high a priority is health and safety?
A
Croner product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 25, 2006
With the TUC and HSE recently locking horns over the decrease in workplace inspections, they could be in danger of avoiding the real issue, according to UK health and safety experts, Croner.
With the TUC and HSE recently locking horns over the decrease in workplace inspections, they could be in danger of avoiding the real issue, according to UK health and safety experts, Croner.
The debate between the largest trade union and the safety enforcement body has been sparked by the publication of contradictory new safety figures showing a decrease in workplace inspections yet the lowest number of reported accidents.
But Croner is concerned that the actual problem facing employees is that safety is such a low priority among many businesses and that workplace safety needs to become a mainstream workplace issue.
In a poll conducted earlier this year by Croner, one in three health and safety professionals said that their organisation did not have board level direction of health and safety.
The TUC claims that safety inspections have dropped to an all-time low (down from 74,000 a year to 55,000 in 2004/05).
The HSE has counteracted that claim by saying that the UK has the second best safety record in Europe and that last year saw the lowest number of reported accidents.
Nasar Farooq, technical manager at Croner, says: "With the best will in the world, the HSE as our enforcing body could not carry out inspections in all workplaces".
"It is the employer who has the ultimate obligation to manage the day-to-day and long-term risks to their employees".
""However, with many health and safety professionals admitting that safety does not feature at board level, many businesses are failing to make workplace safety a key business issue.
It is this, combined with inspections, which will ensure the safety of UK employees".
""Employers should think seriously about the duty they have to their employees".
"That means not only carrying out the basic legal requirements but also informing and consulting with employees".
"It is proven that involving workers in workplace safety issues including internal audits and inspections has a positive effect".
"Indeed, a combination of senior management commitment and employee involvement in health and safety creates a productive and innovative environment within which to work, reduces the social cost of health and safety failure and leads to better management of risk and regulation.".
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