HSE Press Office: Putting the record straight

Readers Letters , Daily Mail

2 Derry Street
London


Dear Sir

Having started my working life as a graduate engineer in the chemicals manufacturing industry in 1975, a year after the Health and Safety at Work Act came into being, please allow me to set the record straight on why I became a Health and Safety Commissioner.

I have now worked for almost 30 years in an industry where there is no question that the health and safety of our workforce and the communities around us are of paramount importance. We have good working relationships with our regulators and our combined efforts have delivered an excellent record as health and safety.

I passionately believe that a healthy and safe workplace should be nothing more nor less than a basic given for everyone employed in the UK. That's why I chose on my own initiative to apply to become a Commissioner (no-one invited me). I will continue to offer my experience to the Commission because I believe that best practice sharing can help us all get even better.

Responsible industries and work organisations want strong, effective, workable regulation - the Commission have done a pretty good job in delivering that for 30 years and I am proud to be a part of it.

Yours faithfully


Judith Hackitt
Health and Safety Commissioner
Director General
Chemical Industries Association