MAKING HEALTH AND SAFETY A CORNERSTONE OF A CIVILIZED SOCIETY

HSE press release E107:03 - 23 June 2003

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today called on everyone involved in the world of work to give it their views on health and safety for the next 10 years. Each year injuries and ill health caused by work result in 40 million days off, with effects in terms of personal suffering and lost productivity. Now the HSE is seeking views on its strategy for the years ahead by publishing 'StrategicThinking - work in progress'.

HSE deputy director general Kate Timms said, "Health and safety is seen by some as a closed book, but the continuing toll of death, injury and ill health tells a different story. 'Strategic Thinking - work in progress' represents a new departure for HSE in sharing and seeking comment on HSE's strategy development process at an early stage.

"The paper asks big questions about the future of the health and safety system - If HSE is to maximise its effectiveness in reducing occupational ill health, death and injury it must not spread its resources too thinly. If we are to concentrate resources on key areas for improvement, some tough choices need to be made as to where the resources are taken from. "

"The Health and Safety Commission strategy for 2001-2004 includes the major initiatives of Revitalising Health and Safety and Securing Health Together. These have taken us in the right direction. We now need to build on these for the future."

Notes to editors

1. 'Strategic Thinking - work in progress' emerges from close discussion between the Health and Safety Commission and the Executive. Comments will contribute to a draft strategic plan for 2004-10, which will be published as a consultation document in the early autumn.

2. The paper suggests 5 big issues that present the most significant opportunities and threats to occupational health and safety over the next 10 years:

• A changing economy in a changing world. Not only do technology and globalisation continue to affect the nature of competition, but factors such as an ageing workforce and changing attitudes to risk-taking and responsibilities will also have significant effects.
• Health issues. Issues such as stress and musculoskeletal disorders have come to the fore as key contributors to the 40 million working days lost each year to occupational ill health and injury. This presents challenges in terms of both the skills required of health and safety professionals and the linkages with wider government emphasis on creating a healthy, productive and more inclusive workforce.
• Public Protection and Security. There has been growing demand for HSE's public protection role to expand, pushing the organisations towards new areas, some of which are already regulated by other authorities and some of which lie significantly outside the core expertise of HSE.
• Role of local authorities. Changes in the economy away from manufacturing and towards the services sector mean that the number of businesses for which local authorities have enforcement responsibilities has greatly increased. These are also the businesses where "newer" health issues are particularly prevalent. Whilst there is some excellent work done by some local authorities, the picture is inconsistent and the overall resource dedicated to health and safety enforcement continues to fall year on year.
• Managing the business. HSE has undergone major change in recent years to concentrate effort more directly on achieving its targets: reductions in the numbers of people killed, injured and made ill by work. The organisation needs to go further in becoming more flexible and responsive to change in order to maximise its effectiveness.

3. HSE invites feedback on its thinking to date. Comments will contribute to a draft strategic plan for 2004-10 to be published as a consultation document in the early autumn.

Copies of 'Strategic Thinking - work in progress' can be accessed online at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm.

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