Focus on real risks

Posted on Friday 1 January 2010

Stories of the misuse of health and safety and the consequent derision of its value can undermine important safety management systems; the success of the HSE’s Myth Busters Challenge Panel shines a light on the scale of this issue, according to SHE Software.

In a recent example students at a school were banned from pushing a fellow pupil around in his wheelchair as they had no training. And in another, a guest was told by a hotel that they did not provide floor towels in their bathrooms for health and safety reasons.

In each case, health and safety procedures prescribe no such action.

Safety management systems are about managing real risks properly, not being risk averse and stopping people from getting on with their lives.

Through efforts to engage the workforce and promote safe and healthy conditions with quality, well-managed health and safety, the message will quickly spread that safety management systems should not be seen as draconian but as important to risk management which will help health and safety legislation maintains its essential moral authority.