31.07.2014

40 years of health & safety law

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the UK’s landmark legislation – the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Introduced by the British Safety Council back in ...you guessed it 1974, the legislation was designed to reduce injuries and ill health in the work place. Since 1974, the British Safety Council claims that there has been an 80 percent reduction in fatal injuries at work.

Alex Botha, chief executive of the British Safety Council, said: “Going forward we need a legal framework that is flexible and one that can adapt to changing risks. We cannot stand still. There remains so much more to do including tackling the thorny issues around health and wellbeing – the sometimes forgotten part of the health and safety equation.”

Lawrence Waterman, trustee of the British Safety Council and director of health and safety at Battersea Power Station, added: “With employers taking responsibility and later regulations embedding both worker engagement and risk assessment. This approach has been successful, driving down accident rates and encouraging the mind-set of zero harm. About 10 times as many workers are damaged and their lives shortened by exposure to health risks than in accidents, despite this, we have shouted safety but whispered health. Now health is coming into focus, action is being taken and the necessary changes are starting to happen.”