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22 August 2006 - Has Health and Safety
Become a Killjoy
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have today launched a set of key
principles which will provide practical and sensible risk management actions, in
order that businesses will "stop concentrating their efforts on trivial risks
and petty health and safety."
The principles were launched in London at a children's sailing centre.
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."
Supporting the HSE principles, Mr. Ben Fogle, Adventurer and Author, 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."
The principles show sensible risk management to be about the following:
- 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.
- Enabling individuals to understand that as well as the right to
protection, they also have to exercise responsibility.
Sensible risk management is shown as not being about the following:
- 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.
- Reducing protection of people from risks that cause real harm and
suffering.
Mr. Jonathan Rees, HSE Deputy Chief Executive, said of the principles:
"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."
Do you agree or disagree that health and safety has become a "killjoy" for
our everyday lives, or perhaps you feel Health and Safety should be taken even
further?
If you have opinions you would like to share, then why not send us your
comments, or visit our friendly Forums, where you can share your views with the
many Health and Safety minded people who visit us at HSfB.
Further information on the new HSE principles can be accessed from the HSE
Webpage, by clicking the following:
HSE - Risk Management
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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