Political parties quizzed on health and safety at work plans

Nick Elvin

The British Safety Council (BSC) has written to six of the main political parties in advance of the general election to find out their plans, if elected, for ensuring the health and safety of workers.

With less than two months until the country goes to the polls, the BSC has contacted the Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP and UKIP parties to find out their views on how they plan to help grow a sustainable economy, and the role that good health and safety will play in achieving that goal.

Neal Stone, acting chief executive of the BSC, said the organisation chose those parties because “it is certain that one, or more, will be in government come 7 May”.

“We put three questions to them,” he added. “The first concerned how health and safety is regulated, and in particular how each of the parties would support the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities, to ensure that risks are being adequately controlled.

“As budgets are tight and public spending on regulation and enforcement reduces, we want to hear from parties what they will do to ensure regulators are adequately resourced including their views on HSE becoming more commercial.

“We also sought views on the role and responsibility of employers to help address the nation’s health issues through workplace interventions. Health risks are always difficult to tackle and in many ways have been a second order priority as we focussed largely on the prevention of injuries at work.

“However our failure to effectively manage occupational health risks, costing some £8bn each year, is a huge burden for the country. The workplace can be a very convenient place to convey important health messages from occupational disease like cancer, to obesity and the dangers of physical inactivity.

“Finally, we wanted to hear each party’s ideas on how we can incentivise employers to do more to invest in good health and safety. There are many innovations in the field of insurance and taxation, some already in operation other countries, which could encourage sound investment to help prevent workplace injury and ill health occurrences.

“Getting businesses to invest in effective health and safety measures, is critical. We know that investment in training and the proper maintenance of plant, equipment and machinery can help reduce lost time and maintain productivity whilst saving the public purse billions spent by the NHS on healthcare.”