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One of the key elements of The Roben’s Report was the creation of the HSE as a body to ensure health and safety legislation is implemented by employers and to support and educate in the area of the public and workers safety. Commercialisation was NEVER a feature of the premis under which the HSE was born.
Now the Tory-led coalition government is destroying the whole basis of health and safety law and the principles that came out of the Roben’s Report.
 This begins with the new CEO of the HSE when he/she is appointed, the job advertisement for which ignores the need for any health and safety background whatsoever, but does demand a fully commercially sound individual!
The job advert’s opening line reads:
“We are now seeking a new Chief Executive to help lead change in the organisation and take advantage of a range of national and international commercial opportunities.”
In response, the construction union UCATT has expressed ‘disgust and disquiet’ following the publication of the job advert for a new chief executive to run the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The safety watchdog, meanwhile, has already embraced the 'commercialisation agenda' demanded by safety minister Mike Penning.
UCATT says that while the advert for the £160,000 per annum post mentions three times that the post holder will be expected to make the HSE more commercial, it fails to mention the importance of improving worker safety.
Steve Murphy, the union’s general secretary, said:
“This is disgusting and yet again shows the contempt the government has for the safety of working people. The primary role of the chief executive of the HSE should be about ensuring the lives of workers are not put at risk. Instead they are looking for someone to sell the organisation’s services to the highest bidder.”
He added: “The HSE is not a commercial organisation full stop. Rather than trying to make money from the HSE the government should be reversing the HSE’s funding cuts, in order to ensure that people can work safely.”
TUC calculates that since the Conservative-led government took office in May 2010, HSE’s budget has been cut by over 40 per cent. HSE has already embraced safety minister Mike Penning’s demand for more commercialisation.
A report to HSE’s April board meeting from acting HSE chief executive Kevin Myers said “to support the commercialisation agenda” management consultant Leo Enright had been recruited and “will provide additional resource and commercial expertise to take forward this work as well as lead on the delivery of the other Triennial Review recommendations with a commercial aspect.”
In a 9 January 2014 ministerial statement marking the publication of the Triennial Review of HSE, safety minister Mike Penning said the government wants “to go further to introduce reforms of HSE to ensure that it delivers value for money to the taxpayer, whilst ensuring safety for the nation. There is considerable potential for HSE to become more commercial in outlook and in delivery – increasing the pace of the work already started within the organisation.
Therefore, I have asked HSE to begin work immediately to examine commercial models for HSE in collaboration with HMT and Cabinet office, and to review the HSE Board to ensure it has the right skills to oversee future efficiencies and commercial income generating options.”
The re-election of a Tory government in 2015 will spell total disaster and bring with it complete commercialisation, as in the USA, of all things to do with workers safety and welfare at work in order to ensure no limitations to the ability of business to maximise profits; irrespective of the cost in terms of human lives and welfare.
Source: UCATT / Hazards
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