A new guide which highlights the health and safety responsibilities of local
councillors has been launched titled: 'Think about health and safety - What
elected members of local authorities need to know'. Developed by members of the
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Public Services Group, the
guide is intended to help elected members make decisions that help keep council
employees, and the public, safe and healthy.

Nattasha Freeman, the president of IOSH, said:

"Health and safety in the public sector often gets a bit of a bashing, but our
guide is about getting a sensible approach to health and safety. Nine times out
of 10 local authorities get health and safety judgements right. 'Conkers
bonkers' stories detract from the 19 deaths and 6,500 major injuries to public
service employees highlighted in our guide.

"Elected members have a much bigger responsibility for health and safety than
they probably realise. They decide on the budgets, strategies and policies, so
they have a major impact on the health and safety resourcing and culture at
their authority. They might even be considered in a court of law to be the
‘directing mind' of the organisation."

More info

AplusA-online.de - Source: Institution of Occupational Safety and Health