HSE resources 'should be protected during cuts'
Commercial insurance
8th July 2010
Attempts to impose cuts across the public sector should not be allowed to impact upon health and safety levels in the UK, one expert has claimed.
According to the policy and technical director of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, ways of protecting the resources of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) should be examined.
Richard Jones also called on the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government to provide greater support for the agency "in raising awareness and enforcing standards in accident prevention", particularly in high-risk sectors such as agriculture and construction.
He also recommended introducing financial incentives for employers to provide therapies and suggested free workplace advisory visits should be rolled out in England, as they are available elsewhere in the UK.
Firms seeking a UK insurance policy are advised that his comments come after the HSE reported a fall in the number of fatalities in workplaces during 2009-10 to a record low of 151, down from 178 deaths the previous year.
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