The statement sets out the key principles which HSC believes should underpin health and safety enforcement actions, highlights the need to be proportionate to, and targeted at risk and is transparent on enforcement actions. The main elements of the statement are as follows. Further information can be found at the press release section of the Health and Safety Executive's website.
Young people have twice as many accidents in their first year of work than adults do.
Despite initiatives undertaken by various organisations both RoSPA and Norwich Union feel that many more accidents could be avoided by further awareness raising and education of employers and young workers. These policies should set out a comprehensive programme of what employers will do in the event of an illness or accident resulting in injury to one of their employees to rehabilitate them back into work. Recent consultation by the TUC on rehabilitation revealed that 500,000 people take time off work each year as a result of an injury or illness that affects their ability to work. Of these 25,000 never return to the workplace. It is estimated that this costs the Government 5 billion a year.