"We believe this strategy represents a clear statement of core principles and a sensible approach to health and safety in Great Britain.

Whilst the economic climate is difficult and the temptation for some may be to cut corners, HSE, its partners and businesses must resolve to continue to strive to improve health and safety performance. Good health and safety is good business"
Judith Hackett, Chair, HSE

The Health and Safety of Great Britain - Be Part of the solution

Last year, 229 people were killed at work, thousands more died of work-related illnesses and 137,000 injuries were reported. The Health and Safety Executive has launched a new strategy which will guide and inform efforts to reduce the numbers of people killed or injured at work or those affected by work-related illnesses. While much has been achieved in the last three decades, there is more to be done and it can only be achieved by working in partnership.

New research demonstrates that employers and workers alike both recognise overwhelmingly that providing a safe workplace makes sound commercial sense. Nearly 90 per cent of business leaders say that people are their organisation’s most important asset. In addition to preventing accidents, 65 per cent of employees say that good health and safety practices make them feel valued.

The recession could make some workplaces more dangerous, as more than a quarter of business leaders say that that their organisation will face pressure to cut spending on health and safety this year. This is not only potentially dangerous but could also be bad for business; nearly eight in ten business leaders acknowledge that good health and safety standards are beneficial. In part this is because the cost of preventing accidents is almost always less than the costs associated with an accident once it happens.

Too often health and safety is seen as trivial or the preserve of ‘jobsworths’, rather than preventing tragedy. A third of employees wrongly think that HSE bans wearing flip-flops at work or children playing with conkers. In fact, HSE is focused on real risks and preventing the serious harm that dangerous workplaces can cause.

The most effective way to improve health and safety practices is for senior management to show leadership on the issue. HSE is thus calling on leaders today to sign a pledge to ‘Be Part of the Solution’ and improve health and safety standards.

The pledge is as follows:

We, the undersigned:

Agree to play our part in reducing the numbers of work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health in Great Britain.
Call on employers to put health and safety at the heart of what they do and to take a common-sense approach to health and safety.
Commit to debunking myths around health and safety that trivialise the impact of injuries, ill health and deaths on individuals and their families.
Recognise the importance of health and safety in difficult economic times and the dangers of complacency.
Pledge to work with the Health and Safety Executive and its partners to be part of the solution.

July 16th, 2009