New publication reflecting on fifty years of the legislation applauds the Act’s influence but asks questions around wellbeing and technology.
Commissioned by SHP, The Profession Reflects… Fifty years of the Health and Safety at Work Act, is a collection of essays and thought pieces with contributions from the profession who were asked to consider what impact the Act has had on themselves and the sector since it gained Royal Ascent in 1974.
Concern around the ActWhile most applauded its affect in curtailing deaths and accidents, there was a general concern around how it can incorporate new technology such as AI and big data, and what role it can play in new approaches to wellbeing in the workplace.
In her essay, Erin Shoesmith at Addleshaw Goddard, humanised the Act and addressing it directly offered this advice: “As you know, the pace of change is unmatched by any regulation and until any new legislation is passed, you will need to be the voice of reason to ensure that any exposure to safety risks from the use of AI systems, are mitigated to the lowest level possible.”
The publication, in association with NEBOSH, also includes input from Tim Marsh, Anna Keen and Samantha Cartwright, who says current stress management legislation requiring employees to work off risk assessments and other control measures is too rigid. “Wellbeing is too broad,” she writes, suggesting a more focused framework could transform its workplace integration. “Wellbeing is increasingly integrated into health and safety functions but often lacks the legal backing that ensures it is taken as seriously. Specific legislation around wellbeing could transform it from a ‘nice to have’ to a fundamental component of workplace health and safety.”
Cartwright, a former SHP Rising Star, says the Act can also be “quite daunting” which “can cause confusion around what is required, making it difficult to learn and understand. She admits however it does have “the ability to interpret the information to suit the needs of your organisation allows for more flexibility and innovation”.
Shaun Lundy, in his contribution, lauded the legislation for the role it has played in his working life, calling it a “career cornerstone”.
He concludes his article: “In celebrating this milestone, we must honour the progress made over the past five decades and look forward to a future where health and safety continue to evolve, ensuring that every worker returns home safe and healthy at the end of the day.”
It’s a sentiment further echoed by NEBOSH in its foreword to the collection. “On the golden anniversary [of the Act] we remember the power it has had in helping to preserve the lives and health of each of us as we go to work everyday.”
Excellent commentary by Tim Marsh – South Wales based as I am, and with some knowledge of the tragedy at Aberfan, I’ve always wondered at Lord Robens’s reputation and why Aberfan doesn’t feature more heavily in the background to the Health & Safety at Work Act