Bosses urged to "step up" to accident prevention challenge
August 24, 2007
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging directors to "step up" to the accident prevention challenge, as the safety organisation campaigns to emphasise the key role of business leaders in saving lives and reducing injuries at work.
RoSPA is to hold two conferences, in Glasgow and London, on 26 September and 26 November 2007 respectively, on the subject of directors’ health and safety responsibilities, during which those in senior positions will be encouraged to explore the need for strong leadership in the field of safety.
RoSPA says the issue is particularly important in light of recent developments and the growing focus on the health and safety responsibilities of directors and senior managers, including the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.
In addition, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in association with the Institute of Directors, recently revised its guidance on directors’ responsibilities, with the HSE indicating that it will consider more prosecutions of directors.
Roger Bibbings, RoSPA’s Occupational Safety Advisor, said, "In too many organisations, senior managers still tend to regard health and safety as a low level, technical or regulatory compliance issue, rather than a key strategic aspect of business performance. It is therefore important to get the message out that high health and safety standards, encompassing both the prevention of injuries and ill health, can contribute to commercial success."
He added, "RoSPA has long sought to raise awareness of the need for effective board level and senior management leadership of health and safety, including the setting of targets, progress reviews and performance reports. Those working at high levels must also set good personal examples."
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