11 May 2004 - Minister outlines commitment to health and safety
Risk management is the key to reducing the number of deaths and injuries in the workplace but this can only happen if everybody works together and adopts a brave, new approach to health and safety, said Minister for Work Jane Kennedy today.
In her first Health and Safety speech, Ms Kennedy told the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident’s occupational health and safety conference that although Britain had a health and safety record of which it could be proud, the workplace and its hazards were changing.
“The rate of fatal injuries has fallen by over two thirds in the last thirty years, but we are now seeing a plateau in performance.
“There is also a greater exposure to risks such as stress and musculoskeletal disorders. We have to respond to this change and look towards more innovative ways of working to tackle these new issues if we are to make further inroads into health and safety improvements,” she said.
The new strategy for Health and Safety in Great Britain which was launched in February was developed with these matters in mind and a key factor was genuine partnership working, Ms Kennedy added.
“The public sector also has to lead the way – it is not enough for Government just to exhort others it must lead by example and set standards. The public sector employs five million people and must play a full part. For example, sickness absence is generally higher than the private sector. I think that is a cause for concern.
“The Health and Safety Commission and I are determined that this should change and therefore the public sector has been made an area for priority action.
“Effective management of health and safety can help deliver improved productivity and efficiency. This is a golden opportunity for the public sector to lead the way and show others how to unlock the increases in productivity, as well as helping the Government to achieve its goals,” Miss Kennedy said.
She concluded by saying that the Government’s goal was not a risk free society but one where risk was properly managed and understood.
“Risk management is the key that unlocks progress while bearing down on resultant suffering and loss of life. We must champion the case for sensible controls, sensibly applied.”
The conference in Birmingham was attended by key figures from across the industry. Other speakers included Bill Callaghan from the HSC and Tim Humphreys of the Association of British Insurers.
Notes for editors
- A copy of the Minister’s speech is available from the DWP press office.
- The new workplace health and safety strategy, which was launched in February is available on the DWP website.
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