Pictured: Ruth Ross
Businesses across Shropshire are being urged not to use the
challenging economic climate as an excuse to cut back on vital
health and safety procedures.
Shrewsbury-based consultancy Building Trust in Safety Ltd points
to the latest official figures from the Health and Safety
Executive, which show a 16% increase in the number of deaths caused
by accidents in the workplace during 2010/11 than in the previous
year, as evidence that some hard-up firms are prepared to scale
back on the necessary preventative measures and policies in order
to save money.
"Given the challenging economic climate, there is a danger that
health and safety could be seen as an area where corners can be cut
to reduce expenditure, but the consequences of doing so are
catastrophic," Ruth Ross, Managing Director of Building Trust in
Safety Ltd, explained. "As well as the human cost of accidents in
the workplace, ranging from minor incidents and time off work,
right the way through to serious injuries and fatalities, there are
also the wider financial and reputational implications to bear in
mind.
"This could include being forced to pay compensation, increased
insurance premiums, the threat of stiff fines being imposed, and
even the risk of criminal prosecution - the HSE will not accept any
case of non-compliance with health and safety regulations, even
during such a tough economic period."
Ruth revealed that more than 22 million working days across the
UK were lost in the last year due to work-related illness, with a
further 4.4 million days lost to workplace injury, costing the
nation's economy billions of pounds in both lost productivity and
sickness payments.
"Companies need to realise that managing health and safety
effectively and proactively actually makes good business sense. Not
only does a safe workplace make commercial sense, as the cost of
preventing an accident is usually substantially less than the cost
which would be incurred when one has already happened, but when
staff feel well-protected and well-trained at work, they feel more
of a part of the business, which leads to better productivity,
reduced sickness absence, and greater loyalty."
Building Trust in Safety Ltd was launched in 1999 and is now one
of the most respected health and safety consultancies in the UK,
with a head office in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and a network of
experienced consultants operating across Derbyshire,
Leicestershire, Lancashire and the North West of England. Offering
a comprehensive and practical solution to all health and safety
needs across all industry sectors, Building Trust in Safety's team
of dedicated specialists provides an extensive range of services,
enabling businesses to flourish without fear.