RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

May 9 , 2006
MORE ACTION NEEDED TO IMPROVE PROTECTION FOR WORKERS

Speaking at RoSPA’s National Safety and Health at Work Congress today, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Minister for Health and Safety, insisted that Britain must make further improvements to its health and safety record.

Lord Hunt said: "Over the past 30 years we have achieved a great deal in improving health and safety standards but more still needs to be done.

“Last year more than 200 people were killed at work and over 350,000 injured. The cost to the economy is well over £10bn every year. This is largely as a result of poor health and safety management. Most of the deaths and serious injury are completely avoidable and often by simple inexpensive measures.

“Every death and injury is a tragedy; the cost is felt highest by the family of those involved both economically and emotionally. Employers, regulators and safety professionals have a moral and legal duty to see that avoidable workplace incidents don't happen."

Lord Hunt stressed the importance of partnership working, and how the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working closely with organisations such as RoSPA, the Institute of Directors (IoD) and Trades Union Congress (TUC) to ensure that workers are protected and to distance the real issue of health and safety from ridiculous stories that give the public an improper perception of health and safety.

The conference Protecting People, Adding Value is being held at the NEC, Birmingham, May 9-11, and is sponsored by EDF Energy.