Manufacturers
are urging
government to
resist pressure
for new legal duties on directors after
a new survey concluded that, despite
the recession, company boards are
taking a more hands-on approach
and spending more time on health
and safety.

The HSE Board is under pressure
to recommend a new duty on
directors. However the survey of
almost 400 companies, conducted by
EEF the manufacturers’ organisation,
revealed there has been a major
increase in board engagement in
managing health and safety risks
over the last three years. According to
EEF the survey proves the proposed
new laws are unnecessary and maybe
counter-productive.

“Our survey confirms that there
has been a sea change in director
involvement – active leadership is
now very definitely the norm, not the
exception,” says Steve Pointer, head
of health & safety policy at EEF.

He fears further statutory duties
would simply lead to a ‘box ticking’
mentality aimed at protecting board
members instead of protecting
employees. The survey shows that
encouragement and support,
coupled with robust enforcement of
the existing duty on directors, is
more likely to bring further
improvements.