Directors should be health and safety qualified

A survey of 130 companies by Norwich Union Risk Services revealed that 42% were unable to show their nominated board member - with responsibility for health and safety - had any formally recognised qualifications such as IOSH or NEBOSH.

John Phillips, training and consultancy manager for NURS, said recent guidance concerning directors' responsibilities for health and safety, along with new corporate manslaughter legislation coming into effect in April, meant such qualifications would be seen as increasingly important.

He said: "Our research supports anecdotal evidence from the experience of our health and safety consultants that some company directors and senior managers may well be failing to take health and safety seriously.

"Cost issues, lack of time, or quite simply health and safety being seen as a low priority could all be contributing factors to such behaviour. Time and money may be short for many companies, but in fact, good health and safety management can avoid substantial costs and save money and time in the long run."

Higher profile

John went on to say that organisations convicted of new corporate manslaughter laws could face fines of 10% of their annual turnover, together with potentially damaging 'publicity orders'.

He added: "Guidance from the Institute of Directors and the Health and Safety Commission states that all staff, including board members and directors, should be trained and competent to fulfil legal responsibilities for health and safety.

"The introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, coupled with the IOD/HSC guidelines for directors, should help raise the profile of health and safety in the boardroom."

Improvement notices

John told us that last year NURS worked with a company that had been issued with six health and safety improvement notices. One requirement was that they accessed competent health and safety advice.

"The directors did not deal with the problem and due to lack of understanding were unclear of the consequences. Following threatened prosecution by the HSE, we met with and trained the directors who agreed that a member of staff would need to complete the NEBOSH diploma. With our help, all six notices were closed."

NURS suggests that directors and senior managers attend a course such as 'IOSH Safety for Senior Executives', and that they use the IOD/HSC guidance as a self-assessment tool to certify that standards are in place and to ensure that health and safety becomes a part of the business philosophy.

For more information on attending an 'IOSH Safety for Senior Executives' course, or gaining a professional health and safety qualification, see our section on IOSH, IEMA and NEBOSH training - link above/right.