Leading from the top to a safer workplace for all

Questioning performance - the director's essential guide to health, safety and the environment, is a new book from IOSH.

The Rt Hon John Gummer MP launched his book "to help directors sleep at night" at an Institution of Occupational Safety's and Health's presentation in Westminster.

Questioning performance - the director's essential guide to health, safety and the environment, is a new book from IOSH, written by David Eves and John Gummer.

It gives directors all they need to know to discharge their responsibilities properly, and enables them to ask the right questions of their safety teams and understand the answers.

"Injuries and ill-health caused by work cost the UK economy up to £30 billion a year".

"Put another way, these costs equate to nearly 10 per cent of company trading profits".

"Catastrophic failures of health and safety management in recent years have damaged and even destroyed some company reputations".

John Gummer explained the need for directors to take health and safety seriously: "Increasingly, company directors are seen to be responsible for the health, safety and environmental record of their businesses".

"Customers, shareholders and the wider public know that the profitability and reputation of a company is put at risk when directors do not measure up to these growing expectations".

David Eves, former deputy director general and HM chief inspector in the HSE, said: "Directors are responsible for the big picture, and have to ensure that their company will survive and prosper in a harsh, competitive world".

"They may reach the boardroom with little or no experience of managing risks to health and safety".

"If they think this is best left to experts while they concentrate on the company's financial success, they do so at their peril." "The only way to get good health and safety standards is through strong leadership," said IOSH president, Neil Budworth".

"220 people lost their lives at work last year, and they were all preventable deaths".

"It is up to the government and leaders of industry to show everyone the example to follow".

IOSH also presented its guidance document for Parliament, Think about health and safety - supporting Westminster MPs in their constituencies for distribution to all MPs.

This reference booklet gives clear guidance for use within their constituency offices and surgeries.

It includes a case study by Edward Garnier, MP for Harborough, as well as checklists and contact numbers for the health and safety team at Westminster.

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