The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) launched its fifth annual Health and Safety Offences and Penalties Report today.
As well as naming all those companies convicted in HSE prosecution cases over the past year, this new-look report comments on research looking at why businesses comply with health and safety legislation.
The findings show that 90 per cent of the 1,700 respondents strongly agree that health and safety is important for staff productivity and morale, and 82 per cent believe they must comply with health and safety regulations to protect their reputation.
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However, only 45 per cent said they would be more likely to act on the regulator’s advice because of its enforcement powers.
HSE director Timothy Walker, said: “Until every employee in Great Britain works in a healthy and safe environment, there will be a continued need for the HSE to use fair, reasoned and sensible enforcement as a necessary and powerful tool in ensuring that employers comply with the law. The research shows that this is the approach employers expect from us. “
