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WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY - A NEW STRATEGY FOR GREAT BRITAIN
A radical new strategy to improve future standards of workplace health and safety in Great Britain was launched today by Des Browne, Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions and Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health & Safety Commission. Drawing on the last 30 years experience and extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, the strategy sets out a new direction for the health and safety system and the roles of HSC, the Health & Safety Executive and local authorities. The strategy is ambitious, but realistic, focusing on managing risks and not eliminating them. HSE and LAs will target resources on the areas of greatest need and be less active where risks are well managed. In those areas, there will be greater emphasis on advice and support. Des Browne said: "This new strategy is radical and brave in its approach to reduce workplace risks for everyone, no matter what job they do. But this cannot be achieved by HSC, HSE and LAs alone. It is vital that the whole health and safety system is involved and close partnerships are forged with other stakeholders to bring about change and improvement. "This Government sees occupational health and safety as a cornerstone of a civilised society and wants to achieve a record that leads the world. Great strides have already been made on safety improvements and I want to see similar progress on occupational health. This is particularly important to me as it touches my department's work in helping people back to work after illness and preventing them getting ill in the first place. "The record in reducing accidents is impressive. Now we need to achieve a similarly impressive reduction in ill health arising from work. As well as untold suffering, poor management of risks costs the economy dearly. This new strategy is the way ahead."
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