Saving lives and reducing injuries...AT WORK
Helping SMEs
Why? Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face specific challenges when it comes to preventing accidents and ill health. Many report that “red tape” and a lack of resources make it hard for them to manage health and safety.
What we did: Moves by the Government to reduce confusion and the perceived administrative burden of health and safety, particularly on SMEs, was the year's dominant theme. We were at the forefront of the debate on many occasions, consistently sharing our fundamental belief that there is nothing essentially wrong with the legislative framework, which has proportionality at its heart, but recognising that there are some instances in which over-the-top judgements are made or in which health and safety is used as a convenient excuse for not doing something. We valued the opportunity to contribute these arguments to Lord Young of Graffham's review of health and safety law and the compensation culture, and were pleased that his final report did not recommend a wholesale rewriting of the law but focused instead on how the law should be applied and communicated.
We were among the winners of the SHP IOSH Partnership Award for our work with SMEs.
When Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Work and Pensions, subsequently announced a shift in regulatory emphasis through a package of measures outlined in Good Health and Safety, Good for Everyone, we welcomed the intention to concentrate enforcement on cowboy employers, bear down on over-zealousness and eradicate unnecessary red tape. However, we expressed our concern about cuts in the resources of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the impact this would have in limiting help available to the vast majority of noncompliant firms which are well motivated but lack knowledge and understanding. We continued to highlight the extent of major health and safety issues that still need to be tackled, including work-related health damage and occupational road safety. We also began preparing our response to a subsequent review announced by the Government - the Löfstedt Review which would consider the architecture of health and safety regulations.
“All the partners are delighted to have been named as winners of the Partnership Award at the SHP IOSH Awards. We know that work contributes to a healthy life, but also that some work can damage our health. Coming together with other organisations to tackle big issues like ill health is crucial if improvements are to be experienced across the board.”
Karen McDonnell, head of RoSPA Scotland, on receiving the SHP IOSH Partnership Award.
Complementing our contributions in the policy-making arena, we continued to develop practical solutions to help SMEs prevent accidents and ill health. We were delighted that a project we worked on with the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, Scottish Chamber of Safety and HSE in Scotland was recognised through the presentation of the Partnership Award at the SHP IOSH Awards. The award recognised our collaboration on the Health Risks at Work initiative, which provides face-to-face support and a toolkit to help SMEs identify and manage common health risks.
Strengthening corporate leadership
Why? Health and safety should be led by those in senior positions, not just for ethical and legal reasons, but because preventing accidents and ill health makes good business sense.
What we did: Furthering co-operation between employees and management was the theme of the RoSPA Scotland Occupational Safety and Health Congress in Glasgow, at which the results of a major investigation into worker involvement in health and safety within non-unionised workplaces in Scotland were presented. The investigation, commissioned by the HSE and conducted by RoSPA Scotland, found that effective worker involvement needed the support of the managing director, or another senior director, and so top management must be convinced of its worth. The final report contained hints and tips for businesses wanting to begin a programme of worker involvement.
We launched the Big Workplace Discussion at Safety and Health Expo.
To turn the spotlight on another aspect of leadership, we launched the Big Workplace Discussion, through which we invited health and safety committees to submit their views on what characterised a good line manager or team leader. We then held an informal workshop to examine options for taking the agenda forward including though coaching, mentoring and business-to-business learning, and a list of “essentials” for team leaders and supervisors was produced.
Supporting local groups
Why? Safety Groups UK is a valued self-help network, offering practical assistance to SMEs seeking to improve their health and safety arrangements.
What we did: Our support for more than 70 local health and safety groups continued through our provision of the secretariat for Safety Groups UK - a network that celebrated its fifth anniversary during the year. Our role included organising the Alan Butler Awards for Excellence which celebrate good practice across the groups and were once again presented at a ceremony at the House of Lords. A new award - the Maurice Adamson Award - was established to recognise the outstanding contribution of an individual to the safety groups movement.
Increasing competence
“The trainer was excellent and presented his points very clearly. The course was good value for money.”
Nigel Smith, founder and director of Corporate Balance, who was among the first delegates on RoSPA’s new NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work Qualification course
Why? Lives can be saved and injuries reduced when managers and workers better understand how to prevent accidents and ill health and have the necessary skills. Training courses should evolve in order to remain relevant and effective.
What we did: To help those who need to learn how to manage safely but are short on time, we introduced the IOSH Managing Safely “Plus” course. The course uses the shortest possible time to deliver the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health's flagship training - just three days - with day four comprising our Business Benefits Workshop, which provides a unique opportunity for delegates to understand the true cost of an accident and its impact on an organisation.
The first delegates on the NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work Qualification.
The year also marked the first running of our scheduled training course for the new NEBOSH Health and Safety at Work Qualification, a programme we had piloted for the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health the previous year.
In addition to expanding our training course portfolio, we led an initiative supported by a wide range of trade associations to help employers better understand which health and safety qualifications their staff need to hold. The National Core Competence Benchmark features a website that lists courses and qualifications (offered by any training provider) and ranks them against recognised training frameworks. The initiative also includes “smart card training passports” enabling contractors to quickly and easily share their training histories with third parties.
Encouraging continuous improvement
Why? Complacency about accident prevention in light of success already achieved could lead to a rise in injuries. Benchmarking tools inspire firms to enhance their performance, while consultancy helps them address specific needs.
What we did: Tying in with national moves to reduce confusion about health and safety, we were pleased to be involved in the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR), an independent organisation involving the main bodies in health and safety. The OSHCR was launched to help employers procure good quality, proportionate advice. Eligible consultants who provide commercial advice on general health and safety management issues are able to sign up, and our own consultants are among those who are now listed on the register.
We were delighted that, in 2010, Workers' Memorial Day received official Government recognition for the first time. Our National Occupational Safety and Health Committee initiated the creation of a website dedicated to thousands of people who never returned home from work. The site provides detailed information about dozens of memorial sites across the UK and is designed to provide a poignant reminder of why we cannot consider health and safety as a “job done”.
Celebrating success
“We are delighted to have achieved this award. Not only does it demonstrate our commitment to health, safety and the environment in the workplace; one of our core values as an organisation, it supports our vision to become a high performing organisation.”
David Currie, managing director of FMC Technologies Ltd, winner of the RoSPA Scotland Trophy
Why? Organisations that have shown a commitment to saving lives and reducing injuries should be honoured. Awards encourage future improvements and set a good example to others.
What we did: It was another record breaking year in the RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Awards with more than 1,750 businesses and organisations honoured in 2010. Doosan Babcock, part of Doosan Power Systems, won the prestigious Sir George Earle Trophy, in addition to the Engineering Construction Sector Award. FMC Technologies Ltd - Dunfermline won the RoSPA Scotland Trophy, as well as the Manufacturing Industry Sector Award.
Roger Bibbings MBE received an IOSH Lifetime Achievement Award.
Distinguished Service Awards, which are reserved for individuals who make exceptional contributions to society through their work in health and safety, were presented to David Morris, Bernard Robinson and Diana Kloss MBE.
We were also delighted that Roger Bibbings, our occupational safety adviser since 1994, received the IOSH Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented at the SHP IOSH Awards in recognition of his outstanding contribution to saving lives and reducing injuries at work over nearly four decades.
“There is no doubt that Roger Bibbings has made a significant difference to the safety of the working lives of people across the UK. His hands-on approach has earned him the utmost respect from his peers and his passion and enthusiasm for his industry have made such a huge impact on UK health and safety that it must be recognised.”
John Holden, president of IOSH, the chartered body for health and safety professionals, on Roger’s Bibbings’ Lifetime Achievement Award
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