TUC urges unions to comment on the HSE's strategic plan

The HSE is calling on "everyone involved in the world of work" to comment on its strategic health and safety plans.

HSE deputy director general Kate Timms said: "The paper asks big questions about the future of the health and safety system. If we are to concentrate resources on key areas for improvement, some tough choices need to be made as to where the resources are taken from."

The TUC is urging unions to press the HSE to give safety reps a central role in health and safety and to register concerns about the lack of action on women and rehabilitation.

TUC health and safety specialist Owen Tudor said: "We want work-force involvement, participation and consultation to become as central a feature of the British health and safety system as risk assessment, and that will only be achieved if safety reps become a central element of the HSE's strategy."

* Strategic thinking - work in progress can be ordered from Strategy and Intelligence Division, 8NW, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London, SE1 9HS or downloaded from www.hse.gov.uk/consult/disdocs/strategicthinking.pdf. The closing date for responses is 13 August 2003