HSC urges new focus on real risks

A HSE Health and Safety Executive product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 23, 2006

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has urged people to focus on real risks - ie those that cause real harm and suffering - and stop wasting effort on trivial risks and petty health and safety.

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has urged people to focus on real risks - ie those that cause real harm and suffering - and stop concentrating effort on trivial risks and petty health and safety.

To help take this forward the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today launched a set of key principles: practical actions that we believe sensible risk management should, and should not, be about.

The principles can be found at the HSE's website.

Launching the principles at a children's sailing centre in north London, Bill Callaghan, Chair of the HSC, said: "I'm sick and tired of hearing that 'health and safety' is stopping people doing worthwhile and enjoyable things when at the same time others are suffering real harm and even death as a result of mismanagement at work".

"Some of the 'health and safety' stories are just myths.

There are also some instances where health and safety is used as an excuse to justify unpopular decisions such as closing facilities.

But behind many of the stories, there is at least a grain of truth - someone really has made a stupid decision.

We're determined to tackle all three.

My message is that if you're using health and safety to stop everyday activities - get a life and let others get on with theirs." Lending support to the principles, author and adventurer Ben Fogle said: "Children encounter risk everyday and its important that, through activities like those being carried out today, they learn how to enjoy themselves but also stay safe.

"I probably take more risks than most - and I wouldn't want my life to be any other way".

"No one wants a world where children, in fact anyone, is wrapped in cotton wool, prevented from taking any risks and scared of endeavour".

"That's why I'm supporting HSE's launch and am happy to endorse these principles." Sensible risk management IS about: Ensuring that workers and the public are properly protected; Providing overall benefit to society by balancing benefits and risks, with a focus on reducing real risks - both those which arise more often and those with serious consequences; Enabling innovation and learning, not stifling them; Ensuring that those who create risks manage them responsibly and understand that failure to manage real risks responsibly is likely to lead to robust action; and Enabling individuals to understand that as well as the right to protection, they also have to exercise responsibility".

"Sensible risk management IS NOT about: Creating a totally risk free society; Generating useless paperwork mountains; Scaring people by exaggerating or publicising trivial risks; Stopping important recreational and learning activities for individuals where the risks are managed; and Reducing protection of people from risks that cause real harm and suffering".

"Commenting on the principles Jonathan Rees, HSE Deputy Chief Executive, said: "We want to cut red tape and make a real difference to people's lives.

We are already taking action to put the principles into practice.

Last month we published, straight-talking guidance on risk management, but we cannot do this alone.

That's why I welcome the broad alliance of support for this initiative - organisations representing employers, workers, insurers, lawyers, volunteers, health and safety professionals and many others who have made positive contributions to our approach".

"These principles build on all of this and will hopefully drum home the message that health and safety is not about long forms, back-covering, or stifling initiative".

"It's about recognising real risks, tackling them in a balanced way and watching out for each other".

"It's about keeping people safe - not stopping their lives.".