How do you direct your company on Health & Safety issues? New guidance leads the way
"Health and safety is integral to success. Board members who do not show leadership in this area are failing in their duty as directors ... and are damaging their organisation". This is a salutary warning contained in simple and clear guidance for directors and board members on managing health and safety at work that has recently been issued jointly by the Institute of Directors and the Health and Safety Commission.
"Leading health and safety at work", which is relevant for all construction companies, contains a practical four stage agenda, encouraging companies to plan, deliver, monitor and review health and safety. Each stage includes:
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Core actions that boards and individual directors should take that relate directly to an organisation's legal duties. These are intended to set standards;
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Good practice guidelines that set out ways to put the core actions into practice; and
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Brief case studies, which demonstrate how improved risk management, can result in significant reductions in both injury rates and insurance liability premiums. |
Constructive warnings of what can happen when board members do not lead effectively on health and safety management are also provided.
The guidance is not obligatory, but as suggested in our recent e-alert on the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, compliance with such guidance is likely to be a relevant consideration in determining the liability of an organisation under that Act.
IoD & HSC Guidance - "Leading health and safety at work"
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Q & A article in Property Week published on 16 November
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