Health and safety regulation: ‘gone mad’ or saving lives?

In the twenty-first century we have witnessed remarkable advances in science and technology,
progressive new laws that have sought to minimise social inequality, and mind-blowing expressions of
artistic creativity. Some, however, believe that the pursuit of progress has led us to go too far; in seeking
to eliminate risk and moral misbehaviour, we have replaced common sense with rules and regulations
which simply aren’t necessary. For these critics, political correctness and health and safety have ‘gone
mad’. In his Panorama investigation into Britain’s health and safety regulations in April last year,
Quentin Letts used a particularly insensitive example of health and safety officers overstepping the
mark. While visiting her husband’s grave, a widow from Nottinghamshire found that the headstone had
been adorned with an oversized yellow sticker reading ‘WARNING! This Memorial is Unsafe. Should not
be tampered with. Essential maintenance required.’

Examples like this one, in which risk is ‘over-assessed’, give the impression of a society in which
humanity is compromised in the name of health and safety. But the reality is quite different. The UK’s
Heath and Safety Executive (HSE) is the national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety
and illness, and works in the public interest to reduce work-related death and serious injury. Their
statistics show that every year over a million people are made ill or injured at work. In 2008/9 180
people died from work-related causes. These figures make it clear that health and safety concerns,
particularly in the workplace, cannot – and should not - be ignored. In order to reduce these numbers,
the HSE works with employees, business leaders, workers and workers’ representatives to foster a
sensible approach to health and safety in the UK.

Working to improve workplace safety is a range of organisations that pursue similar goals to the HSE.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), for example, is the Chartered body for health
and safety professionals. They say on their website that ‘when it comes to health and safety, only advice
from qualified, experienced and skilled professionals will do. That’s why one of our main roles is to
maintain high standards.’ The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is a registered charity
and the professional voice for environmental health, providing information, evidence and policy advice
to local and national government and environmental and public health practitioners in the public and
private sectors. The CIEH argues not for more regulation, but instead for better regulation: ‘there is a
need for closer co-ordination between national and local regulators to improve efficiency, and greater
emphasis on achieving compliance through education and advice, rather than enforcement’.

Also supporting the principles of the HSE are smaller organisations that provide health and safety
training, consultancy and advice adapted to the needs of different customers. Examples include courses
on first aid and defibrillation, fire safety, food safety and manual handling. These services not only
reduce the likelihood of injury in the workplace, but also protect organisations who may not fully
understand their legal duties as employers. For new businesses, the prospect of formulating health and
safety policy and undertaking risk assessments can be especially daunting. Top providers of health and
safety training and consultancy offer guidance and ensure that the business in question fully
understands its legal responsibilities. Some go even further, composing health and safety policies and
developing systems for reporting accidents. Investing in such services means that businesses and other
organisations can ensure the safety not only of their employees and the general public, but also of
themselves.

The most established providers of health and safety advice and training are also able to adapt their
services to changing requirements. Childcare centres have increased in popularity as more and more
mothers choose to return to work, and so health and safety specialists have tailored their courses to
develop basic first aid skills relevant to infants and children. One example is the Paediatric First Aid
course which equips participants with a comprehensive range of skills to enable them to respond
professionally in the event of a child becoming unwell or injured. The 12-hour course is aimed at staff
working with children who need to be qualified and meet the requirements of the OFSTED/Early Years
Foundation Stage. Another example is the First Aid for Infants and Children certificate, which is valid for
three years and is aimed at teachers, teaching assistants, school meal supervisors, learning support
workers and nursery staff. By offering these bespoke services, health and safety specialists make
adhering to health and safety guidelines an easy and integrated part of service delivery.

Health and safety regulation, while occasionally misplaced, is a vital component of our workplace laws.
While far-fetched stories about health and safety regulation – the banning of ice cream nut toppings
which might cause customers to slip, or floral hanging baskets which might topple onto unsuspecting
pedestrians, for example – may provide a little light relief, they are rarely rooted in truth. The HSE’s
long-time commitment to the concept of ‘reasonably practicable’ safety measures is a fitting
representation of the majority of health and safety regulation, in which the primary aim is not to take
the fun out of everyday life, but to make people’s lives safer.

About the author

Bristol-based GWS Media is an experienced, friendly and professional website design company, offering
a full range of website design, website renewal, search engine positioning and online promotion
services. Specialist services include online marketing and search engine promotion, as well as online
reputation management. SEO services are included in websites developed by GWS. Areas of expertise
include multilingual website design, international website development and video on the web. From
video testimonials through to corporate videos, GWS can shoot and convert video for optimal online
performance and viewability. Local clients include the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service, the
Charitable Trusts for the United Bristol Hospitals, the University of Bristol and BAWA (the British
Aerospace Welfare Association). National and international clients include Mensa International, Nicholl
Food Packaging Limited, the British Cattle Veterinary Association and the National Eye Research
Centre.