E072:08 22 December 2008

HSE urges transport and communications sectors to "take advantage"

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is urging leaders in the transport and communications sector to take advantage of a free guide that could bring significant benefits to their business. The guidance, entitled, ‘Leading health and safety at work’, is issued jointly by the Institute of Directors & HSE. 

The call comes as research revealed that over a quarter (26%) of transport and communication industry leaders surveyed knew of the publication.

An HSE spokesperson said:
"Despite trying times for this sector, it is pleasing to see this level of awareness amongst industry leaders. However, I would urge others to take advantage of this free publication, written by business people for business people."  

Notes to editors

1. ‘Leading health and safety at work’, ING417, is available free of charge at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg417.pdf
2. ‘Leading health and safety at work’ was launched in October 2007. The guidance is written ‘by directors for directors’ and offers them straightforward practical advice on how to; Plan, Deliver, Monitor and Review, health and safety in the workplace. Production of the guidance was overseen by an IoD led steering group with nominees from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), Local Government Association (LGA), National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), NHS Confederation, Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Warwick Law School, University of Warwick
3. To establish awareness of the guidance amongst directors and equivalents of organisations with 5 or more employees in the public, private and third sectors, HSE commissioned Databuild to survey directors of 1600 organisations. 108 of these were involved in the transport and communications industries. Telephone surveys were undertaken during 2008 July 28 – September 9.

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