COISE/07-22 22 July 2008

Buckinghamshire authorities sign up to HSE "sensible risk" campaign

Local authorities in Buckinghamshire have signed up to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) "sensible risk” campaign. This aims to combat the growing number of myths that are undermining important health and safety legislation.

At the event six authorities confirmed their commitment to health and safety by highlighting the refuse collection work, which is carried out by local authorities. The sign-up included Buckinghamshire County Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Chiltern District Council; South Bucks District Council; Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service. The ‘ten principles of sensible risk management’ give organisations practical advice on what risk management should – and should not - be about.

Heather Bryant, Head HSE East & South East Division said:

"I met with the CEOs of Buckinghamshire Councils to agree what we can all do to challenge these unhelpful myths about health and safety.  Whatever the background, such stories do no-one’s reputation any good and they distract attention away from the real priorities and the wealth of good work done by local authorities.  

"As individuals we can challenge those that use health and safety as a convenient excuse for cancelling popular or long standing events and activities - but more significantly as organisations we need to take positive action to enable innovation and learning - not stifle them”

The event, on Friday 18 July, was co-hosted by Buckinghamshire County and Aylesbury Vale District Councils at the Missenden Abbey Conference Centre, in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.

Notes to editors:

More information can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm

Sensible risk management is about:

• Ensuring that workers and the public are properly protected
• Providing overall benefit to society by balancing benefits and risks, with a focus on reducing real risks – both those which arise more often and those with serious consequences
• Enabling innovation and learning not stifling them
• Ensuring that those who create risks manage them responsibly and understand that failure to manage real risks responsibly is likely to lead to robust action
• Enabling individuals to understand that as well as the right to protection, they also have to exercise responsibility

Sensible risk management is not about:

• Creating a totally risk free society
• Generating useless paperwork mountains
• Scaring people by exaggerating or publicising trivial risks
• Stopping important recreational and learning activities for individuals where the risks are managed
• Reducing protection of people from risks that cause real harm and suffering

The authorities that signed up to sensible risk were:

Buckinghamshire County Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Chiltern District Council, Wycombe District Council, South Bucks District Council; and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Myth of the Month uses cartoons to explode some of the most common health and safety fallacies. Each month HSE publishes a new myth on its website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/index.htm

It aims to help organisations avoid wasting time and effort on trivia and unnecessary bureaucracy. At the same time it helps them focus on the risks that really matter to their business and their workers. Each myth includes links to practical information that can help businesses protect people and comply with the law with a minimum of fuss.

Public enquiries:

Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500,
or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

Press enquiries (Journalists only):

For more information please contact Lisa Browne: 020 7261 8312 or email: lisa.browne@coi.gsi.gov.uk

HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk

Issued on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive by COI News & PR (London & South East).