Pledge to improve Health & Safety

Cathy Peattie MSP with HSE board member Danny Carrigan, HSE Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger, and Chair of the HSE Judith Hackitt.

On Tuesday evening, 22nd September, Cathy hosted a meeting for the Health and Safety Executive in the Scottish Parliament.

“It was good to get so many people together to discuss how we can improve health and safety in Scotland,” said Cathy.

“There is a lot being done to address poor health and safety, but there are still many problems and I am particularly concerned that Scotland has higher rates than the rest of the UK, fewer successful prosecutions, and relatively low levels of fine being imposed. I think there needs to be a formal initiative that brings together and coordinates health and safety action in Scotland, to maximise the benefits of existing work, and to identify what can be done to address the “Scottish Safety Anomaly”. I know some people think that this is down to a different mix of employment and a different culture, but if that’s the case, let’s not use it as an excuse – we need to tackle the causes.”

Cathy signed up to the HSE pledge

We, the undersigned: 

• Agree to play our part in reducing the numbers of work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health in Great Britain.
• Call on employers to put health and safety at the heart of what they do and to take a common sense approach to health and safety.
• Commit to debunking myths around health and safety that trivialise the impact of injuries, ill health and deaths on individuals and their families.
• Recognise the importance of health and safety in difficult economic times and the dangers of complacency.
• Pledge to work with the Health and Safety Executive and its partners to Be Part of the Solution.

The HSE would like companies to sign the pledge – the form is on http://www.hse.gov.uk/strategy/signup.htm