27 September 2004 - HSC Consultation on Workplace Health and Safety in Great Britain to 2010 and Beyond - Updated
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC)
published its strategy for "workplace
health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond" in February
2004. The vision of this strategy is quoted by the HSC as: "to
see health and safety as a cornerstone of a civilised society and, with
that, to achieve a record of workplace health and safety that leads the
world".
The strategy has a main theme of focusing on core businesses within the
U.K., where the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can intervene to reduce
injury and deaths within the workplace, of which there are two key elements
for development - "interventions strategy", setting out main
techniques that the HSE use as regulators and "being clear about
priorities".
The consultation, by the HSC is a consultation on the methods used by the
(HSE) and the Local Authorities to influence workplace health and safety
standards, which invites comments from the industry, in order
that the theme may be taken forward. It is an important consultation,
based on a combination of evidence from reliable research and opinions,
great or small, of people who have an interest in health and safety within
the workplace.
People from the industry's views are very important to add real validity to
the research evidence and proposals set out within the document.
Bill Callaghan, Chair of HSC commented:
“This is an important consultation. We are always going to have finite resources, so we have to make choices and be clear about our priorities. We believe that decisions affecting our future direction and priorities are best made when based on a combination of reliable research evidence and the considered opinion of those involved. That’s why we need the views of employers, workers, their representative organisations, professional and trade bodies and other interested parties as to which technique we should use where, and what to give priority to so that we make the greatest impact.
“In terms of inspection, we’ve always targeted our resources towards those where risks have been poorly managed. This means that there is less proactive intervention with better performers. Such targeting is necessary for using our resources most effectively. But should we be more transparent about these judgements so that firms can help themselves to be recognised as good performers, allowing us to further target our efforts to where they are most needed, for example, protecting vulnerable groups such as migrant workers? Should we give public recognition for good practice and performance? These are important questions on which we need your comments”.
The HSC would prefer to receive your comments electronically using their form held within the links below, but if you wish to make a hard copy return, you are asked to respond to the questions in the appendix at the end of the document and send your comments to:
Mr. Jim Holt, Room 908, Daniel House, Trinity Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 3TW
Tel: 0151 951 4868, Fax: 0151 951 3019 email: regulationandrecognition@hse.gsi.gov.uk
The documents can be found on the HSC web site: Consultation - Regulation and recognition - towards good performance in health and safety
The consultation ends on Friday 24th December 2004.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
