Britain’s new head of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has emphasised the importance of staying vigilant when it comes to safety in the workplace.
In September, Sarah Albon took the role of chief executive for the UK’s HSE and is eager to make certain the organisation maintains the country’s good record.. At present, the UK has the second lowest rate of deadly accidents in Europe, beaten only by Finland. Latest accident at work statistics issued recently by the HSE show 0.44 fatalities for every 100,000 people annually in the UK.
The quantity of deaths each year has remained level at around 140, regardless of how much the UK workforce has expanded. Despite these figures, Albon warned:
“I think the thing for me is about not being complacent.”
Whether it’s electrical safety precautions or mental health concerns, the HSE states the responsibility lies not only with enterprises but with those employed by them. Work with a health and safety risks involved should only ever be conducted by qualified professionals.
Albon commented:
“How many of us actually also play our own part? Part of what the HSE is also about is trying to spread the word and educate people about the longer-term impacts of doing the right thing and wrong thing.”
She added that the method used by HSE to regulate is world-leading. According to Albon, the HSE is not simply about regulations and rules but about assisting employers in making proportionate risk assessments.
