HSE goes public with inspectors' guide to worker involvement

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its information pack for its own inspectors and those from local authorities on issues around worker consultation and involvement.

Citing "strong evidence" that involving workers in health and safety matters improves health and safety performance, the pack sets out the meaning and benefits of worker involvement, employers' legal requirements to inform and consult workers, and the HSE's policy on enforcing those requirements. It also advises inspectors how they should raise the issue with employers.

TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson welcomed the pack's publication, but warned that it does not address inspectors' lack of support for union safety reps who are denied time off to undertake necessary training and duties.

"We have to wait and see if it makes a difference in the way that inspectors deal with problems around consultation in the workplace," Robertson said. "We hope that safety reps will raise the points in the pack with any inspectors they come into contact with."

The HSE Topic pack: worker consultation and involvement can be downloaded from www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/fod/inspect/workerinvolve.pdf