I was delighted as Chair of SWITCH Forum to be able to represent SWITCH at the HSE AGM at their offices at Redgrave Court, Bootle in Merseyside on 29th July.
The day commenced with coffee and time for networking with the HSE Board and Executive Team who freely mingled with the invited guests in the coffee lounge within the main reception area of the building. Like the previous AGM I attended it was refreshing to see the HSE Senior Team engage, and it was also an opportunity to raise awareness of SWITCH Forum and the work we engage in in the waste and recycling sector in Scotland with them and the other guests in attendance.
Thereafter there followed roundtable discussions where the attendees broke into smaller groups, having selected the workshop they wished to attend at time of accepting the invitation to attend the AGM.
I had selected to attend the Prevention – Preventing Ill Health Together roundtable workshop and found myself in a small group including John Rowe the Depute Director of the Health & Safety Executive, some other HSE Directors and people representing other organisations e.g. MIND, WISH, Chemical Industries Association, The Faculty of Occupational Medicine. This session was almost a follow-on from the Prevention Summit in London which I attended in Nov 24. Some of the attendees at the roundtable had also attended and contributed to the Summit. There was some discussion around how best to share best practice across industry sectors and looking to develop case studies to showcase good practice and leadership. The Chair of the Faculty of Occ. Medicine spoke well on the need for a preventative approach to mental health and wellbeing. Stating that it was good for business, good for the economy and good for people. Most businesses get involved at the ‘Tertiary’ stage i.e. after the person has gone off ill rather than at the ‘Primary’ stage, looking at measures and systems to be in place to keep people well at the front end. It was also generally agreed round the table that it would be helpful if the HSE could strengthen the importance of competent advice as there were lots of ‘practitioners’ out there who perhaps weren’t qualified properly in the field of health & wellbeing.
Following lunch, the AGM commenced both in person and for on-line attendees. Everyone was welcomed by the HSE Chair, Sarah Newton and there followed an overview of the Annual Report and Accounts from David Murray, Director of Finance and Corporate Services.
We then heard from Sarah Albon, HSE Chief Executive Officer who reaffirmed the HSE’s commitment to their 5 key objectives that the HSE are focussed on until 2032 –
- Reduce work-related ill health, with a specific focus on mental health and stress.
- Increase and maintain trust to ensure people feel safe where they live, where they work and in their environment.
- Enable industry to innovate safely to prevent major incidents, supporting the move towards net zero.
- Maintain the UK’s record as one of the safest countries to work in.
- Ensure HSE is a great place to work, and we attract and retain exceptional people.
She commented on the fact that ill heath costs the UK economy £14.5b each year which is a huge burden on business, individuals and society. She reiterated that occupational ill health needs to be taken as seriously as safety in all workplaces. She underlined the HSE’s focus on collaborative working with a huge expansion of focus to occupational health and protecting people before harm is done with improved guidance and clearer communication.
Some interesting statistics –
- 13, 200 inspections carried out in 24/25
- Over 4,400 notices issued
- Over 200 convictions
- 25,000 concerns reported directly to the HSE by members of the public
- 20k cases of work-related lung problems recorded
- 10k cases of work-related hearing problems recorded
- 500k cases of MSD’s reported (Musculo-skeletal disorders)
- Work related stress accounts for more than 50% of ill health cases reported
Therefore, lots to do and the Prevention programme continues. She also commented on how we need to adapt to new risks as they emerge – gig economy workers and hybrid working arrangements for example, need to be considered.
There followed a Q&A session with Directors and senior management fielding questions as appropriate from members of the invited audience and from those watching remotely.
Overall, it was a very well organised day and it was once again encouraging that the HSE were keen to engage and hear from professionals from a wide cross section of business sectors. It was also pleasing to have the opportunity to spread the word about SWITCH Forum and the work we’re engaged in to raise standards in health and safety and encourage people to have a career in the resource sector by providing pathways for education and training and increasing competence levels in the industry.
Jim Brown
Chair – SWITCH Forum