The BSIF comments on David Cameron’s Conservative conference speech
On the last day of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, David Cameron delivered his keynote speech. In this speech1, David stated “But one of the biggest things holding people back is the shadow of health and safety”.
David Lummis, Chief Executive Officer at the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) remarks: “Whilst the BSIF fully supports the Government’s efforts to reduce red tape on organisations, recent comments made by the Prime Minister in his Conservative conference speech portrayed Health and Safety as a ‘shadow’ – surely this cannot be right! Whilst some ‘anoraks’ in Health and Safety may go substantially too far in their conquests, condemning Health and Safety as a whole creates the impression of a laissez faire attitude. This approach could lead to a substantial increase in actual harm to workers - all of this unnecessary harm could be prevented by simple, proportionate measures that assist, not hinder businesses.
“We need to reign in the very small minority of zealots and exert more common sense into our Health and Safety culture. Describing Health and Safety as a ‘shadow’ over business gives the impression that it is holding back success, when often the opposite is the case. All workers have the right to expect not to be harmed or killed by their work. These are the positive, strong messages that we should be delivering to encourage common sense safety, not undermine its real successes with stereotypical negative messages.”
For more information about the British Safety Industry Federation please visit www.bsif.co.uk
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
1David Cameron’s Conservative conference speech in full - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15189614
In the speech David mentioned Health and Safety – see below exert:
“But one of the biggest things holding people back is the shadow of health and safety. I was told recently about a school that wanted to buy a set of highlighter pens. But with the pens came a warning. Not so fast - make sure you comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Including plenty of fresh air and hand and eye protection. Try highlighting in all that.
This isn't how a great nation was built. Britannia didn't rule the waves with arm-bands on. So the vetting and barring scheme - we're scaling it back. CRB checks - we're cutting them back. At long last common sense is coming back to our country.”
About the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF)
Established in 1994, the BSIF is the UK’s leading trade body for the safety industry. The Federation represents manufacturers and distributors of safety, health and environmental products; training companies; safety and environmental consultancies; together with accreditation and inspection houses, publishers and risk management consultancies. It is a Health and Safety Executive-recognised competent authority and the lead trade body for the PPE Regulations, as designated by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
As a membership organisation, the Federation is clearly focused to bring benefits to its members, something which its core values and mission statement reflect. Its core values – influential, knowledgeable, beneficial and supportive – drive the BSIF’s everyday aims, to support and represent suppliers of safety products and services across all aspects of safety legislation, standards making and major occupational safety issues. Its mission statement – to continue to improve occupational safety, protect and develop the safety and environment protection markets and generate benefits for its members – will continue to drive the Federation over the next years. The BSIF will carry on working with its members and other relevant bodies to help ensure the industry is ‘working together in safety’.
Press Release Reference No: 7709
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