Speaking notes for Glass Industry Health and Safety Conference and awards ceremony

Judith Hackitt CBE, HSE Chair, Huddersfield on 6 November 2008

happy to accept the BG & GGF invitation because:
- opportunity to recognise and value the health & safety achievements of your industry
- recognise and value the role of both Trade Associations working closely together on health and safety issues (link to personal background in CIA and influential role of trade associations)
- an opportunity to talk about restructured HSE Board and its new strategy

world of work much changed since Robens and HSW Act 1974
- since ’74 Act, safety improved by over 70%, and although we have recent success with a decline in injuries, we want to work to continuously drive down accident rates and raise health and safety performance
- many risks in traditional industries remain but there have been changes due to increased automation, new processes and technologies, increased diversity in workforce and working practices, changes in ownership
- changes in public expectation and societal values
those who create the risk are best placed to control it; a risk-based approach, consultation and engagement remain relevant
there have been improvements since Revitalising targets were set in 2000 but more to do
- slowed progress in achieving further gains
- real risks obscured by myths (elf ‘n’ safety)
- workforce more diverse and more remote (exemplified by the large scale deployment of 2 person installation teams through the glass and glazing industry
- smaller proportion are in unions
- levels of h&s expertise and resource differ between large and small companies, resources provided to Charter members especially valuable in meeting needs and sharing best-practice which the Glass Annual Conference contributes to

Board’s role and direction has taken account of debate and evidence from
- GB Work and Pensions Select Committee enquiry
- Better Regulation Executive
- Dame Carol Black
- other stakeholders
consultation to be launched in December when stakeholders will have an opportunity to engage in dialogue about the content and agree respective roles and responsibilities for delivery
Our clearly stated shared mission is the “prevention of death, injury and ill health to those at work and those affected by work activities”.
key themes will include
- leadership from the top of every organisation, which places health & safety at the heart of the business and which this conference is concerned with through ‘selling the message’ and securing commitment
- competent management and access to competent advice
- proportionate approach – sensible risk management which includes identifying priorities for health & safety
- importance of worker involvement and consultation, irrespective of the size of the organisation or how the workforce is dispersed, in identifying what makes jobs safer and easier in both unionised and non-unionised organisations
- meeting the needs of small businesses
- putting workplace health & safety in a wider context including the ‘better health agenda’

congratulate the BG/GGF and Charter members on their achievements to date.
good example of a voluntary scheme showing continued improved performance against targets
the Charter has a good foundation for contributing to the new strategy
- assisting SMEs with guidance on absence management and rehabilitation
- providing worker involvement toolkit, stress management package
- providing guidance on tackling real risks such as working at height during window-fitting, working with asbestos-cement rainwater goods (gutters and drainpipes), loading delivery stillages
vital strengths include
- emphasis on directors’ responsibility for managing health and safety
- preparation of safety action plans
- participation in the Charter Merit Scheme which lays out a route to continuous improvement
- monitoring and feedback on company and industry performance to enable individual companies to benchmark their own performance against that of the sector
it is encouraging that their scheme can adapt to be of benefit to both small businesses and major international companies
challenge is to maintain focus on improving performance as further gains become more difficult

have heard about the dramatic style of their recent conferences
refreshing change from traditional lecture style of many events
there is a well established link between good H&S and business performance
- today provides an opportunity to learn how to effectively influence the decision-makers and also how to obtain approval, support and commitment throughout the organisation
- even more important as economic pressures increase
the Awards provide well-deserved recognition by their peers of new initiatives, achievements and outstanding contributions by individuals at all levels

glass industry has a good record of partnership working with HSE and is a valued stakeholder in manufacturing sector, we look forward to a continuing and constructive but not uncritical relationship in the future
encourage the glass industry to review their activities in the light of the aims of new strategy for health and safety system
the GLASS Charter provides an ideal delivery partner to realise the aims of the strategy in reducing further the incidence of injury and ill health.
We can deliver a step change performance in Health and Safety in Great Britain – but only if we all carry out our respective roles and responsibilities and continue to work towards shared objectives.