The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its finalised strategy for the health and safety system of Great Britain. The document sets 10 broad goals for improvements, including reinforcing worker involvement, reducing catastrophic incidents, supporting better safety performance by small businesses, increasing competence, leadership and sensible risk management in the workplace. It also commits the HSE and local authorities to maintain appropriate levels of enforcement.
The HSE has stressed that the strategy's function is not just to steer its own work in the next few years but also to provide a focus for employers and employee bodies and other stakeholders, who are invited to sign a pledge to help achieve its aims. The 22 signatories so far include the TUC, confederation of British Industry, Corus and Royal Mail Group. At the launch, HSE chair Judith Hackitt said the HSE will soon publish its own delivery plan for the strategy's first year. She said the plan will follow the line of "evolution not revolution" and will include new initiatives to promote workplace training in "softer" health and safety skills.
However, campaign group Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) has dismissed the HSE's strategy as "nothing new." FACK, which represents the families of people killed in work accidents said it had to fight to be included in the consultation on the strategy, the outcome of which is a "severe disappointment."
For more information on FACK visit www.fack.org.uk.
