Importance of strong leadership

Richard Evens said: "With the International Labour Organisation estimating that more than 4% of annual global GDP is lost due to occupational injury and disease, it is clearly in every employer’s interest to take health and safety seriously. The active involvement of directors and managers in vital in achieving the highest standards of health and safety management. 

"A general approach that includes directors and managers taking responsibility and providing leadership; actively encouraging workers at all levels to get involved in identifying hazards and managing risks; and providing workers with the necessary training and development to help them to play their part in controlling risks, is decisive for good health and safety.”     

Evens also gave examples of how British Safety Council member organisations in the Gulf Cooperation Council are effectively managing health and safety risks, through approaches such as releasing staff to attend training and health and safety meetings and publicising the results of good health and safety performance among the workforce.