RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

August 20, 2007
BOSSES URGED TO STEP UP TO ACCIDENT PREVENTION CHALLENGE

Business leaders will be briefed on the importance of their role in saving lives and reducing injuries at two prestigious RoSPA events.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is holding Directors’ Health and Safety Responsibilities Conferences in Glasgow and London to enable those in senior positions to explore the need for strong leadership in this field, particularly in light of recent developments.

There has been a growing focus on the health and safety responsibilities of directors and senior managers, including the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, the revision of guidance on directors’ responsibilities by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Institute of Directors, and an HSE indication that it will consider more prosecutions of directors.

The Glasgow conference, sponsored by Scottish Water Solutions, takes place on September 26 at the Hilton Hotel, and features a keynote address by Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism.

Lord McKenzie of Luton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, will give the keynote address at the London event, which takes place at Cavendish Conference Centre on November 26, and is sponsored by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: “In too many organisations, senior managers still tend to regard health and safety as a low level, technical, or regulatory compliance issue, rather than a key strategic aspect of business performance. It is therefore important to get the message out that high health and safety standards, encompassing both the prevention of injuries and ill health, can contribute to commercial success.

“RoSPA has long sought to raise awareness of the need for effective board level and senior management leadership of health and safety, including the setting of targets, progress reviews and performance reports. Those working at high levels must also set good personal examples.

“These conferences – titled From Liability to Leadership - will highlight the importance of organisations reviewing their health and safety management systems, a particularly timely exercise given the current developments in the sphere.”

More than 300 senior personnel from organisations across the UK attended a highly successful RoSPA event on a similar theme in May.

For more information about the forthcoming conferences, including programmes, call 0121 248 2120, email events@rospa.com or visit www.rospa.com/events/