Robust welcome to new HSE chief executive

Dr Richard Judge has been appointed as chief executive of the HSE and will take up the role in November 2014.

Unions and safety campaigners have urged Judge to ensure that the HSE uses its legal powers, people and skills to protect workers.

The Unite general union has called on Judge to reverse the recent trend of removing Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP) and the cut in health and safety guidance at work. It also called for full involvement of workers and their representatives in developing ACOPs and to deal with the problem of under-reporting of accidents and ill health by employers.

Unite national health and safety adviser Bud Hudspith said: “We have been urging HSE to act against employers who fail to report workplace accidents, but it has not been willing to do so. This is why we are calling on Dr Judge to act as chief executive and ensure more is done to protect workers.”

The Hazards Campaign has asked people to support them by printing off and sending their template letter to Judge with the message “Don’t pimp our watchdog”, responding to government plans for a more commercialised HSE.

www.hazards.org/safetypimp/notforsale.htm