HSE chair hails safety reps

Judith Hackitt, chair of the Health and Safety Executive, emphasised the important role of safety representatives at work, at the Health and Safety and Worker Involvement conference organised by the Southern and Eastern Region TUC (SERTUC) on 14 November.

Hackitt said: “It has always been the case that the workforce has been fully involved in health and safety and the importance of safety representatives has never been questioned — because it’s never been in any doubt.”

She added: “I am surprised that we continue to have to promote the benefits in worker involvement. In my own personal experience I find it hard to imagine how one could ever put in place an effective workplace health and safety system that did not include real participation and engagement of the workforce.”