Workers 'must be involved in health and safety'

It is vital for organisations to involve employees in planning effective protection for them, a key member of a watchdog states.

Judith Hackitt, the chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), told a conference organised by the Trades Union Congress' Southern and Eastern Region group the importance of safety representatives is unquestionable.

She says she is "surprised" there is still a need to promote worker involvement in these procedures as they are such an integral part of these policies.

Emphasising the point of health and safety training, she claims these measures do not prevent people from doing their jobs but simply ensures they can do so with minimum risk.

"This ranges from finding better ways to help emergency services to perform risk assessments … to enabling small firms to comply with legislative requirements in a simple proportionate manner," Ms Hackitt claims.

In recent related news, the HSE has been nominated for a UK National Business Award for its guidance on how to conduct effective risk assessments.