The Health and Safety Executive launched new guidance for involving employees in managing workplace health and safety at a conference in London earlier this month. The guidance has been brought right up-to-date to reflect the current diversity of working arrangements.
Chairing the conference, attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including employers from a variety of sectors, trade associations, professional organisations, trade unions and safety representatives, HSE Chair Judith Hackitt highlighted the clear evidence that organisations with good worker involvement deliver better performance on health and safety. And that 90 percent of employers and employees already agree that effective involvement is important.
Speaking at the conference Health and Safety Minister Lord McKenzie of Luton highlighted specifically the work of Union safety Reps:
"Thirty years ago this month the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations (1977) became law. For many people work places are safer, the number of serious but non-fatal injuries reportedly falling by 70 percent, workplace deaths have fallen by 76 percent and an estimated 5,000 deaths have been prevented.
The key principles of the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) were built upon consultation and engagement and are as relevant today as they were thirty years ago. I see two key tenets here, firstly the importance of leadership from the top of every organisation and secondly the real involvement of workers in managing health and safety. We are here today to promote and celebrate the latter. Worker involvement in health and safety is one of my priorities for this year. I see it as one of my tasks to take every opportunity to go out and meet with employers, workers and their health and safety representatives to understand the health and safety issues facing people at work and to promote worker involvement as widely as possible."
Judith Hackitt said, "The real substance of good worker involvement is trust, respect, co-operation and joint problem solving between employers and employees. This applies to all workplaces irrespective of size or any other factor. This guidance will help all organisations to decide how to implement a culture in their organisation which genuinely values employees’ contributions leading to higher commitment and productivity."
In addtion the HSE website contains important pages of advice on involving the workforce in health and safety at work. The introduction makes it clear: "Health and safety at work is about protecting your employees and visitors from harm or illness. The best way to do this is to involve your employees."
The site also contains advice for those who are health and safety reps and details the appropriate legislation.
Source: HSE
