Businesses urged to train staff in health and safety

Friday, January 09, 2009

Businesses are ill-advised to cut back on health and safety staff training, governmental bodies warn.

The British Safety Council (BSC) has joined with personal injury lawyers in cautioning businesses that reducing spend by cutting back on staff health and safety training could endanger lives and cost companies dearly.

Research conducted in 2008 by the BSC found that two out of three employers have had little or no health and safety training. Under a half of business leaders surveyed had arranged a safety audit or had a health and safety management system in place.
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Brian Nimick, chief executive of the BSC said: “Last year 229 people were killed at work. If businesses now choose to reduce their spending on health and safety training and management, there is a very real danger that employees are going to be at far greater risk of injury or ill health.”

Claims cost companies an average of £30,000 and also bring significant reputational damage. The annual bill for employers in payouts and costs for accidents and injuries at work is £7.8bn.