Member Article

British Safety Council launch workplace manifesto

The British Safety Council is launching its manifesto for workplace health and safety in the House of Commons, at an event hosted by MP Andy Slaughter.

Alex Botha, chief executive of the British Safety Council, announcing the launch of the manifesto said, “Our vision is that no-one should be killed, injured or made ill through work activities.

“Our goal is to bring together influential players, including politicians and opinion formers, to help focus on what we need to do make that vision a reality.

“Health and safety, when properly and sensibly managed, produces immense business, economic and social benefits.

“Working Well outlines the actions businesses and others can take now and is call to action in the UK and worldwide.

“The manifesto is a long-term road-map, setting out a number of actions in five steps that will bring together all those with an interest in health and safety to deliver.

“For Britain more regulation and enforcement is not the answer. Better sharing of knowledge and expertise, as well as a more risk educated society, is.

“The British Safety Council is looking to shift the direction of the debate away from the silly stories that fixate on ill-informed or misguided decisions, supposedly made in the name of health and safety, which stifle lawful activity.”

He went on to add a call to businesses, employers and other interested stakeholders, to actively and publicly support and promote the manifesto.

While health and safety generates polarised views, the Council suggest too many people are still being killed, injured or made ill by work,

In Britain in 2010/11 there were 26,000 major injuries, 26.4m working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury, and globally 2.2m workers are being killed each year.

The estimated cost to the British economy is £22bn, and international economic is estimated at 4% of global GDP, the Council argue.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .