HSE Strategy - Be Part Of The Solution

On 3 June the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched their new strategy document – "Be part of the solution" – designed to reduce the number of accidents in the workplace and take a "common sense approach" to ensuring that risk management is an enabler for business, not a burden.

Health and safety standards in the UK have improved dramatically over the last 35 years, but since 2003 the rate of improvement appears to have stalled. In 2007/08, 229 workers were killed and 136,771 were seriously injured at work. Furthermore, approximately 34 million working days were lost in 2007/08 due to the consequences of accidents at work and work related ill health. The HSE considers that it is not acceptable to maintain the status quo, and is calling on not only business leaders, but the entire workforce, to "be part of the solution" by working together to improve health and safety standards. To do so is particularly important in the current economic climate – it is essential