Britain's New Health & Safety Leader Starts Job, Calls for Change
On her first day in office as the Health and Safety Commission's new Chair, Judith Hackitt, CBE, called for more board-level engagement and ownership on health and safety issues. HSC has overall responsibility for occupational health and safety regulations in Great Britain. Hackitt began her five-year term in the commission's top post on Oct. 1.
Hackitt previously served as a commission member from 2002 to 2005. "I am delighted to return to HSC and lead an organisation that has played a crucial role in improving Britain's health and safety record," she said. "I look forward to working with members of the Commission, the Health and Safety Executive, our partners in local government, trade unions and business leaders who have all played a vital role in influencing the safety culture in this country."
She added, "With the latest figures showing 241 workplace fatalities, 146,000 serious injuries and two million reported cases of work-related ill-health, there is no room for complacency. More needs to be done in addressing the enormous challenges of improving health and safety in our workplaces. To improve our safety record we need strong and committed boardroom leadership that focuses on real causes of harm in the workplace and not trivia."