Revitalising Health & Safety

The Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions in conjunction with the Health & Safety Commission has published its strategy for revitalising health & safety at work. This is a refreshing departure from previous HSC 'strategies' over the past 26 years, following the Robens Report in 1972 and the Health & Safety at Work Act in 1974, in that it takes a more business orientated approach rather than focussing on a lot of technical issues.

Although carrying forward much of the Robens self-regulatory concept, the strategy sets specific ambitious targets for reduction in work-related deaths, ill-health and injuries which currently cost the British economy some £18billion per year. A ten-point strategy is backed up by a 44-point action plan. Actions include:

• An examination of innovative penalties such as fines linked to turnover, prohibition of bonuses and suspension of managers without pay.
  
  
• A director's code of practice, which will make a named person responsible for health and safety within every company.
  
  
• Exploring with the insurance industry incentives to reward good health and safety performers at the expense of those with poor health and safety records.
  
  
• Tougher criminal sanctions, including imprisonment to be available for most health and safety offences and increased maximum fines.

For a free copy of the Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy Statement, contact:

DETR tel 0870 1226236 or fax 0870 1226237.

For Further Information Please Telephone:
(+357) 24824913
(+357) 99327865
(+44) 208 351 7457

Facsimile:
(+357) 24824913
(+44) 208 351 6562

For Further Information eMail:
waringa@cytanet.com.cy
waringa@awa.demon.co.uk

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