The global economic downturn was at the forefront of minds at the IOSH 09 Conference and Exhibition in Liverpool in March.
Senior figures were keen to point out that, despite the challenging times, it is ‘business as usual’. Lord McKenzie of Luton, the minister with responsibility for health and safety, told the audience: “The economic downturn does not mean that the statutory duty or moral obligation to protect workers and others from work activities has gone away — far from it.
“The HSE and local-authority inspectors are not going to weaken their approach to inspection or enforcement,” he added.
Lord McKenzie said providing companies with access to competent advice is even more important in a recession: “All of us here understand that scrimping on health and safety is false economy. If something goes wrong and an injury or fatality occurs, the financial and reputational consequences for a business can be severe.
“Does an employer trying to manage their business through tough times really want to face litigation costs arising from an HSE prosecution and civil action by an injured worker, as well as the down time in preparing for court cases? Similarly, would an employee really want their actions to force the closure of a business risking their own job and those of their colleagues?”
He added that “responsible engagement” between employers and workers is what is needed, pointing out that agreeable, if difficult, solutions for both sides can be found: “Workers at Jaguar Land Rover voted for a one-year pay freeze and a four-day week. Their reward has been an agreement for no compulsory job losses over the next two years. Just think what can be achieved by harnessing these attitudes, during and after the recession, in the cause of health and safety.”
Engagement was very much on the mind of HSE chief executive Geoffrey Podger, who was keen to trumpet the success of the consultation on the HSE’s new strategy: “We have targets which will remain, and one of the ambitious targets of the new strategy is to get off the plateau we’re in at the moment on workplace injuries and accidents. That’s not going to be easy.
“We have to recognise that there are new challenges and that the world of work has changed. HSE needs to think outside of the box.”
Geoffrey was eager to point out the need for the HSE to make balanced decisions: “It’s very important we take a balanced and proportionate view of life. If we don’t, we’ll be attacked from both sides. We have to maintain a balanced course and that’s not always easy.”
However, on the issue of a definition of competency, Geoffrey said he didn’t see need for change: “We already define competence and I don’t think it helps if the HSE tries to over-define the system. I don’t think the HSE can resolve the issue of competence by saying what the requirements are, beyond the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. We have a general definition and that’s how the health and safety system of this country is run — on general terms.”
And both speakers had one common message — that IOSH needs to continue working with the HSE and other partner organisations, particularly on the new HSE strategy. “The new strategy is not just for the HSE, it is for the whole country,” Lord McKenzie commented.
