Involving workers in health and safety saves lives and money

The business benefits of worker involvement in health and safety were highlighted by Prospect’s Sarah Page at a major industry event in the south-east yesterday.

The union’s health and safety officer told an audience of more than 200 at Health and Safety South in Sandown Park: “Evidence shows that workplaces where workers have a say in decisions that affect their health and safety are safer and healthier.”

The Health and Safety Executive itself recognised this, and research had shown that worker participation could reduce accidents by up to 50 per cent.

Page cited a number of practical examples where Prospect and management have worked together and where this collaborative approach is making a difference. These included:

• promoting the role of health and safety reps in Babcock Marine at Rosyth, Scotland
• working with BT on mental health and other issues
• building consensus during restructuring at Defra’s Natural England
• instilling a culture of dialogue at the Magnox reactor sites in Wylfa and Anglesey in Wales
• involving Prospect’s sector in the Powering Improvement initiative run by the Energy Networks Association.

The two-day Sandown event is supported by the British Safety Council, which organised this year’s content, and Safety Groups UK, with event partners 3M, Ansell, Arco and Dupont.