"Scandalous" was the cry of Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) after their biennial survey of safety reps revealed that almost half (49 per cent) of workplaces in the UK have never been visited by a health and safety inspector. This is despite evidence that inspection and enforcement activity, according to the TUC, is the most effective way to ensure that employers comply with health and safety laws.
The survey also revealed that:
- Nearly 1 in 10 of those questioned said the last health and safety workplace inspection was more than 3 years ago
- A further 15% indicated it was between 1 and 3 years ago
- 27% said their workplace was visited within the last 12 months
In small companies employing fewer than 50 people, only 16 per cent have had a workplace safety inspection in the last year. Even among large workplaces, with more than 1000 workers, only a third have been inspected within the last 12 months.
In 2009 on the launching of its strategy “Be part of the solution” the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) pledged that enforcement would remain at the heart of their approach, which the TUC see as not happening.
Statistics for 2009/10 just released by the HSE show 9,734 enforcement notices were served, an increase of 20% over the previous year but prosecutions dropped by 6% to 1,026.
Countering the TUC argument the HSE said it measures progress by the reduction in numbers of people killed or injured at work. It did not set targets for enforcement or the number of inspections.
While the HSE acknowledged that the possibility of inspection and the threat of legal action play an important part in improving safety in the workplace, it emphasized that “in the majority of workplaces, it is leadership and workforce involvement that create the right safety culture, not fear of the law, or the regulator.”
The spokesperson concluded: “The investment we make in advice, support and information for employers and workers about how to manage workplace risks in a pragmatic, common sense and proportionate way is valued by those in the workplace and it has played an important part in helping make Britain one of the safest places to work in the world.
Despite being one of the safest places in the world to work more than a million workers are currently suffering from an illness or injury caused by their work, and in 2009 over 30 million days were lost due to work-related sickness absence. This time off work cost employers an estimated £3.7 billion - yet much of this could have been prevented if they had ensured their workplaces were safe.
The TUC are worried that the recent cuts in government spending will result in less activity by the HSE, which in turn may lead to deterioration in the accident and illness statistics. The HSE seem to be putting emphasis on advice support and information, in addition to visits.
Denning QC once said “as people get wiser, standards go up” and perhaps the additional advice support and information given out by the HSE will make people wiser and thus more able to manage their risk better. However together with the threat of enforcement, as people should be well aware of accident reporting by now, this joint approach may well work, unfortunately it’s a case of wait and see.
For more information on health and safety at work, risk management and business insurance, speak to Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers on 01603 218000 or visit our website – http://www.alanboswell.com/business-insurance/
