HSE banner
A man and a woman measuring a wall.

Partnership working

Partnership working is vital to improve workplace health and safety in Great Britain. HSE and local authorities have built a solid partnership to make the best use of their respective strengths in tackling national and regional priorities. We are involving more workers in health and safety risk management by raising awareness and influencing attitudes as well as reminding businesses of the benefits of well-managed health and safety. We are also continually striving to strengthen our relationship with trade unions, industry and other government departments.

New partnership arrangements

Two years ago, HSC, HSE and local government representative bodies signed a ‘Statement of Intent’, setting out a commitment to partnership to ensure best use of joint resources. Close working continues to sustain the partnership and the main elements are now in place. They include:

  • a stronger voice for local government through regular meetings with HSC and involvement in policy and programme development;
  • joint teams in HSE’s regions helping to develop partnership working with local authorities;
  • joint planning and working focused on HSC’s priorities;
  • an interactive extranet for local authorities and HSE to communicate better together;
  • better access for local authorities to common guidance, technical support, training and research.

Health and safety partnership for Scotland

This implements HSC’s strategy in the context of Scotland’s health and safety performance, the Scottish economy, and its industrial and occupational make-up and culture.

Set up by HSC in 2004 and supported by Ministers, it brings together key players within the Scottish health and safety system including representatives from business, trade unions and local authorities. It meets the need identified by Scottish health and safety stakeholders to co-ordinate effort across devolved and reserved government interests.

Supporting Welsh Backs

‘Don’t take back pain lying down’ was the message during a Welsh Backs campaign highlighting the economic and social effects of back pain on the Welsh population. Run by the Health Promotion Division of the Welsh Assembly, the initiative ran in tandem with HSE’s Better Backs campaign in England and Scotland. HSE and local authorities in Wales worked closely with Welsh Backs to ensure a well co-ordinated campaign.

Worker involvement

Getting workers on board with health and safety is a key to achieving improvements. It is also vital that managers are encouraged to include workers and their representatives in decisions about health and safety.

Excellent progress has been made in this area. For example, as well as ensuring that our priority campaigns reach out to both workers and managers, HSE’s worker involvement programme has produced specific tools to encourage involvement. For the first time, advice is available for all employers on how to involve their staff, including a suggested process, practical tips and examples (see www.hse.gov. uk/involvement).

Also, in our determination to ensure that everyone is protected at work, we are making sure that migrant workers have access to information on health and safety and their rights. We are also making sure that employers are aware of their responsibilities towards migrant workers.