Health and Safety during a recession
Health and Safety during a recession
Tuesday, 16 June 2009 13:45
As the managing director of a health and safety consultancy, I have to say ‘I’m worried about safety in the workplace’ more than at any time since I started my career, this recession is biting, and individual managers seem willing to take unnecessary risks during this difficult time.
When individuals such as Brian Nimick, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council need to state; “No one should have to work in a situation where they fear for their safety because of unsafe practices. Even in the current challenging financial climate facing industry, now is not the time to make health and safety costs a casualty of cut backs”, it is clear my concerns are shared.
From a personal view, I worry when clients say ’to ensure my business survives we will cease all spending on health and safety until business starts to revive, in the mean time until I have an accident I won’t worry’ or ‘safety is too expensive, the company must protect its financial position and the work force will accept the situation or leave ‘
This is not the time to be playing around with the safety of the workforce when a significant incident could prove the last straw in a companies’ survival and, as if there should be a need, the HSE have launched a new strategy to reinforce that message.
The HSE’s chairwoman, Judith Hackitt, said: “The recession is no excuse for not doing the right thing in terms of health and safety. It is tempting to cut back in this area when times are tough but cutbacks will hit businesses some time, now or later.”
A survey of 200 employers, to coincide with the launch of the strategy, called Be Part of the Solution, found that over a quarter (26 per cent) of organisations were under pressure to cut their health and safety budget during this recession.
“The ‘cutting corners’ problem is real now and has to be tackled but we also have to be ready for the fact that when we come out of the recession businesses will grow and new people will come into the labour market. It may take a while for these cutbacks to manifest themselves,” added the HSE’s chief executive, Geoffrey Podger.
Health and safety are important, not just to employees but also to the long term welfare of our companies and the country as a whole, the cost is quite staggering but also some of the supporting statistics highlight the problem we face:
In a recent survey 62% of employees think health and safety is no longer a priority for their company or management since the onset of the recession.
Employees feel far more inclined to be productive for their employer, when their employer is attentive to their health and safety.
Only just over half of bosses (59%) now think that a proactive approach to health and safety enhances the bottom line compared to 72% in 2007.
In 2007/08 non-existent or inferior health & safety measures in the workplace killed 229 men and women and injured 136,000 employees – costing industry £7.8bn.
At Logic SHE Solutions we believe, by working with clients old and new we can assist their businesses to manage safety, health and the environment in such a way that it will not break the bank, but allow your business to have a positive edge in a difficult market.
Should you require any support please contact our office and talk to a one of our directors who will be pleased to assist you in finding a solution to your health and safety issues.