Labour Research September 2001

Features: Health & safety matters

Health and safety role for directors

Company directors and the board members of public sector and voluntary bodies should accept their role in providing health and safety leadership in their organisation and also nominate a director to champion safety issues according to new guidance from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC). They should also encourage workers at all levels to become actively involved in health and safety.

TUC general secretary John Monks said: "Unions still want legally binding rules for directors, but this is a valuable wake up call, and it makes a cogent case for partnership with trade unions. We also want to see versions of this guide produced for the people who run schools and hospitals, because no one at the top is exempt."

Directors' responsibilities for health and safety free from HSE books - tel: 01787 881165.