TUC Advocates New Law to Enforce Health and Safety Rules
A recent review of the industry scenario regarding the implementation of health and safety rules has shown that many companies are too busy with improving their bottom line and are unwilling to improve their records on worker safety.
The TUC, in an online briefing document, has suggested changing the current law and making it a legally binding duty for the director of a company to implement health and safety rules in a company. The document makes an appeal to make the director a pilot – a leader who will take charge in implementing measures that will improve work environment by minimising risks.
The present law is not legally binding and thus many companies are not serious about the health and safety rules and they expose their workers to unnecessary risks. Since improving the work environment depends a lot on the voluntary participation of companies, many companies are unwilling to do the same. The major involvement of the board of directors is to increase profit, and so there is nothing to force them to take responsibility in implementing safety regulations.
It has been observed that even after the receipt of reports on the condition of worker safety, the directors did not find it suitable to take initiative to implement safety measures.
Under the present circumstances, the TUC thinks that there is a perfect reason to amend the present law and bring in a law that will put the onus of improving the work environment on the directors and will make it a legally binding duty for all directors.
HSE has decided to look into the matter in the coming year and one can only hope that the needful will be done at the earliest.
The Safety for Senior Executives course is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). The course is aimed at Directors, Vice Presidents, Senior Executives and other senior managers who have the responsibility for policy making and strategic planning for health and safety within the organisation. For more information contact the experts at Workplace Law for reviewing your health and safety performance and risk management arrangements.
