HSE consults on how it influences workplace health and safety

HSC press release 044:04 - 30 September 2004

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has today published an online consultative document discussing the methods used by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities to influence health and safety standards in the workplace.

The consultative document addresses one of the main themes in HSC's Strategy for workplace health and safety, "focussing on our core business and the right interventions where we are best placed to reduce workplace injury and ill health". Two key elements of this theme are the development of an "interventions strategy" - setting out the main techniques that we use as regulators - and "being clear about our priorities".

The document, Regulation and recognition - towards good performance in health and safety, identifies 13 'intervention techniques' ranging from the traditional ones of inspection and investigation through to newer methods such as partnership working and sector-wide initiatives. It examines the value of each of these techniques and seeks views as to which ones HSE and local authorities are best placed to pursue with the resources at their disposal.

Announcing the consultation, Bill Callaghan, Chair of HSC said:

"This is an important consultation. We are always going to have finite resources, so we have to make choices and be clear about our priorities. We believe that decisions affecting our future direction and priorities are best made when based on a combination of reliable research evidence and the considered opinion of those involved. That's why we need the views of employers, workers, their representative organisations, professional and trade bodies and other interested parties as to which technique we should use where, and what to give priority to so that we make the greatest impact."

The document also examines the concept of regulators recognising good performance.

Bill Callaghan continued:

"In terms of inspection, we've always targeted our resources towards those where risks have been poorly managed. This means that there is less proactive intervention with better performers. Such targeting is necessary for using our resources most effectively. But should we be more transparent about these judgements so that firms can help themselves to be recognised as good performers, allowing us to further target our efforts to where they are most needed, for example, protecting vulnerable groups such as migrant workers? Should we give public recognition for good practice and performance? These are important questions on which we need your comments."

The full text of the consultation document can be viewed or downloaded from HSE's website.

Notes to editors

1. By 'interventions' HSC means all the available methods and techniques used to influence behavioural change in managing or undertaking work, so as to improve standards of health and safety.

2. HSC published its Strategy for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond on 23 February 2004. The strategy aims to promote a vision of health and safety as a cornerstone of a civilised society and to achieve a record of workplace health and safety that leads the world.

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