Graham Greaves, Director of health & Safety Services at Ellis Whittam outlines how the British Chambers of Commerce report “Health and Safety – A Risky Business” released today suggests that health and safety legislation has gone too far, is increasingly burdensome to business and applied ‘indiscriminately and unintelligently’ to low risk businesses. The report asks for simplification and consolidation of regulations, to prevent health and safety becoming a barrier to growth and a distraction to creating employment.
Efforts to simplify and balance how we approach health and safety for CA businesses can only be welcomed. It is unreasonable, in any financial climate, to impose such stringent controls on enterprises that they feel stifled and restricted. It is essential, however that workers receive reasonable protection from harm and that employers and their insurers are not subject to excessive, and sometimes fraudulent, compensation claims. A great health and safety system is balanced between these, and offers practical and effective solutions which add value to the bottom line.
It is clear that risks differ greatly between occupations – the hazards on construction sites, food factories and farms are worlds away from those in office and retail environments – and these different risks needs to be reflected in how we manage health and safety. We’ve had what may be termed ‘efficient’ regulation since 1974 and the success of the Health & Safety at Work Act has been clear and wide-ranging. However, as work and society has developed, especially considering the shift in focus from manufacturing to service industries in the CA, regulation has not kept pace. Not surprising perhaps, considering the frantic speed of change over the past 30 years.
‘HealthandSafety’ is often seen as one, recently derided, topic. Safety is really easy to manage in many environments. If a machine looks like it could hurt you, guard the dangerous bit. If a floor is slippery, replace it, or give everyone safety footwear – these are over-simplifications, but real common sense usually suggests an obvious way of preventing harm. The more difficult area of Health is another matter. We don’t yet know what health effects 30 or 40 years of working in a contact centre will create. Dealing with the wellbeing of workers (call it ‘welfare’ if that makes you more comfortable) is critical for most businesses, and the smaller the operation, the more damaging poor attendance and lack of engagement will be.
A robust and effective Health & Safety Policy and suite of really meaningful risk assessments, leading to an action plan and strategy will clearly establish how the company means to take these essential elements forward, in a way which contributes to the success of the business and illustrates to potential clients that risks have been identified and are being managed. There is no difference between identifying and managing health and safety risks and addressing anything else which may damage the company. HSE’s recent efforts to assist small firms by providing on-line resources to achieve compliance are to be applauded, but there is no substitute for ‘boots on the ground’ and a good pair of safety eyes in the workplace.
In conclusion, there are still some awful workplaces out there, and people are still being killed in the CA every week because health and safety in their workplace isn’t a priority. Absolutely we should simplify regulation, just as we should reduce and rationalise everything which we require businesses to do, but this is a process of continuous improvement, not a knee-jerk reaction. Keep health and safety simple, but above all keep it effective.