The HSE is to launch a new strategy for health and safety in the workplace in early December.
The announcement was made by its chair, Judith Hackitt, at the 33rd IOSH National Safety Symposium in Warrington, earlier this week. She said the HSE would initiate a consultation process with stakeholders in December to enlist comment on the strategy, which aims to optimise the performance of the overall health and safety system in Britain and clarify the roles of the regulator, those who are regulated, and the workforce.
Ms Hackitt criticised those who repeatedly concentrated on ‘elf and safety’ stories. “There is a need to draw a clear distinction between real health and safety — stopping people getting killed — and the nonsense and jobsworths who shamelessly use ‘elf and safety’ as an excuse,” she said.
She added: “You should know that HSE does not care about banning conkers, pancake races or playground games such as British Bulldog. Health and safety does not stop anyone from doing their job — it actually enables them to do it more safely and efficiently.”
Ms Hackitt also reminded employers that they are responsible for managing health and safety in the workplace, not the HSE. She harked back to the fundamental principle of the HSWA 1974 that ‘those who create the risk are best placed to manage it’, adding that there was no place for complacency. She said: “Only partnership working can make the changes necessary to ensure that Great Britain remains one of the safest places in the world to work.”
