HSE launches new strategy for health and safety
THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a three-month consultation on its new strategy: ‘The Health and Safety System of Great Britain\\Be Part of the Solution’. The launch took place last week at three simultaneous events in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff, to which key stakeholders were invited.
The strategy, which is resetting the direction for health and safety, sets out a number of goals to be achieved, including:
- Encouraging strong leadership and championing a common-sense approach to health and safety;
- Building the competence of those charged with delivering health and safety in workplaces;
- Promoting the benefits of worker involvement, whether the workplace is unionized or not;
- Customizing the support for small businesses, to help them comply with their health and safety obligations;
- Avoiding catastrophes in Great Britain’s high-hazard industries.
Speaking at the London launch, HSE chair Judith Hackitt called on all those involved in workplace health and safety to work with the HSE on delivering these goals.
‘We all share the same mission; to prevent death, injury and ill health in our workplaces, but the HSE and its local authority partners, as the regulators for health and safety, cannot do this alone,’ she said. ‘This is why we are seeking support and involvement from all stakeholders to be part of the solution.’
Following last week’s launch events, a series of regional workshops, hosted by the HSE, will take place across Great Britain in January 2009. These will begin in Liverpool on 8 January, followed by Newcastle (13 January), Bristol (15 January), Birmingham (20 January), Cardiff (22 January), London (27 January) and Glasgow (29 January). Attendance is by invitation only, but to register interest tel: (01772) 767717.
Hard copies of the strategy consultation and supporting documents are available on request from Emma Beals on tel: (0207) 717 6526. Alternatively, to take part in the online consultation, click on the web link below.
The consultation ends on 2 March 2009 and the full launch of the finalized strategy will take place during the second quarter of 2009.
