HSE tells Directors "to lead by actions, not words"

Health and safety about: "Personal responsibility and integrity"

Date:

19 March 2009

Release No:

E024:09

Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has called on Directors to demonstrate personal commitment and spend more time outside the boardroom to show they really care about health and safety.

Judith Hackitt, Chair of the HSE, in the annual Rivers Lecture, told the audience last night (18 March) of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in London:

"Personal responsibility is fundamental to credibility and strong leadership. The first requirement is to get outside of the Boardroom - visit workstations and talk to staff. Ask them what their health and safety concerns are and show genuine interest in and consideration for their response."

In the speech Ms Hackitt challenged the growth of a 'box-ticking' and 'do as I say, not as I do' culture, among managers. She said Board Leadership in Health and Safety is "about common sense, personal responsibility and integrity."

She added: "If the actions of the Board are inconsistent with the directions given to staff, this creates a huge integrity gap."

Ms Hackitt concluded that Chartered Secretaries and Administrators were uniquely able to influence and steer the behaviours of their own boards and to extend that influence throughout the supply chains of their organisations.

Notes to editors

1. The HSE Board has overall responsibility for occupational health and safety regulations in Great Britain, and HSE and Local Authorities are the enforcing authorities that work in support of the Board.
2. 'Leading health and safety at work', ING417, is available free of charge at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg417.pdf. It was written 'by directors, for directors' and developed in conjunction with the Institute of Directors and a range of other organisations and launched in October 2007.
3. Judith Hackitt delivered the Rivers Lecture to the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, on the evening of the 18 March, at the Drapers Hall, in the City of London.

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