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HSE press release C008:06 24 April 2006
HSC consultation: improving
worker involvement – improving health and safety
20 Questions to help shape HSE policy
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on behalf of the Health and Safety
Commission (HSC), today issued a Consultative Document to seek views on how
to encourage, improve and increase worker involvement in health and safety
risk management.
Involving workers is a key theme of HSC’s strategy and both the Commission
and the Executive are committed to improving the quantity and quality of
workers’ participation in managing health and safety at work.
“Workers know the most about the jobs they do, so they are often in the best
position to develop safe and practical systems of work,” confirms Geoffrey
Podger, Chief Executive of HSE, “Effective worker involvement can reduce
accidents and ill health. It is fundamental to ensuring the success of all
other interventions on health and safety. It is important, therefore, that
we actively encourage and support organisations to involve their workers.”
The Consultative Document suggests that there are three pillars to the strategy
to increase workers’ participation in managing health and safety: legislation;
guidance and encouragement. It sets out the current position and options
to strengthen each of the pillars, including possible amendments to the law
on consultation with employees. It invites comments on these options and
any new ideas that have not been considered.
“We want this consultation to gather as many views as possible,” says Zoe
Woodrow, Policy Adviser with HSE’s Worker Involvement Programme. “Both workers
and employers are instrumental in making involvement successful. So we want
to know what managers, workers and their representatives think. We have suggested
some options but we would welcome other ideas, too.”
To encourage as many people as possible to participate in the consultation,
HSE is also publishing a summary document to introduce the issues involved,
as well as organising a number of regional meetings to encourage people to
share and discuss their views.
“The feedback we receive will help us to make the right decisions about how
we focus our efforts in this important area,” continues Zoe Woodrow, “we
recognise that people’s time is limited, which is why we have also published
a summary document. We hope that as many people as possible will take a look
at the documents and let us know what they think.”
The consultation is open to 8th September 2006.
Notes to editors
The Consultative Document Improving worker involvement – Improving health
and safety (CD207), the summary document and feedback form can be accessed
at www.hse.gov.uk/consult
Single printed copies of the Consultative Document and summary may be obtained
from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, Tel: 01787 881165,
Fax: 01787 313 995
Comments should be sent to arrive by 8th September 2006 to: Zoe Woodrow,
Worker Involvement Programme, HSE, 5th Floor, North Wing, Rose Court, 2 Southwark
Bridge, London SE1 9HS.
Involving workers is a key point of the HSC’s strategy for workplace health
and safety. Further information can be found in the document ‘A strategy
for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond’ at:
www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/hsc/strategy.htm and in the Collective Declaration
on Worker Involvement at: www.hse.gov.uk/involvement/declaration.htm
More information about worker involvement can be found on HSE’s workers webpages
at: www.hse.gov.uk/workers/index.htm
Press enquiries
Ray Allger 020 7717 6179
Out of hours 020 7928 8382
Public enquiries
HSE's InfoLine 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG
HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/
