COMMENT
CuTTiNg cornerS
When companies are looking to save money, the training budget is
A recent survey by the legal firm National
Accident Helpline found that 62 per cent of
often one of the first hit, especially for non-core activities such as employees thought their boss was placing less
emphasis on health and safety. Only 38 per
health and safety. But this can be disasterous, says William Bell
cent believed that their employer remained as
committed to workplace safety as ever.
T
imes have been tough for companies in this is health and safety training. This comes less than a year after the
the rail industry. Even though the worst There can be few people who circle the date introduction of a new law which could see
of the recession seems to be behind us, of their next safety training session in their managers and directors jailed if one of their
most companies will continue to be very cost diary and jump for joy, unable to contain their employees is hurt at work. The Health and Safety
conscious for the next 12 months. excitement – well, OK, I do know a few health Offences Act 2008 started on 16 January, 2009
But what is not so clear is in what areas and safety professionals who act like this. For and makes employers personally accountable
businesses should make cutbacks. Ironically, the the majority of people who do health and safety for the safety of their employees. Breaches
areas that companies are most likely to freeze training , though, it’s because they have to as could see managers or directors jailed, or face
are the ones that will have the most severe long- part of their role. But it is vital. Modern health lower court (Sheriffs or Magistrates) fines of up
term impact on business performance. The first and safety law is complex and while it is based to £20,000.
is marketing. It’s the first thing cut and the last round common sense principles, there are If this survey is to be believed, then companies
thing you should cut. Businesses that continue many formal policies and practices companies are putting their managers and directors at risk
to run smart cost-efficient marketing through a should adopt. Recent evidence suggests a trend of jail for the sake of cost savings. That’s not a
recession have a better chance of emerging the of companies ignoring health and safety in an clever thing to do, even after a recession. The
other side with a solid customer base. attempt to cut costs. In my opinion, this is a safety of staff must be the number one priority
And the second thing to be cut is training, dangerous course of action that could lead to for all companies, no matter how badly they are
especially that which is seen as ‘want to do’ company directors ending up in court. Let me doing. One accident is all it can take to wipe a
rather than ‘have to do’. The prime example of explain why. business out.
k
And the odds are sadly high that an accident
stoc
Health and safety
can easily happen to an unprepared business.
training is the last
utter
Thirty-four million days are lost each year due to
Sh
thing cash-strapped
companies should cut
a work related injury or accident. The reality is
back on. that even in a recession, reducing the focus on
health and safety is not a risk that any company
in the rail industry can afford to take.
This is the right time for business owners
and directors to look at where else they can
save money to ride out the recession, without
placing employees in any danger through lack of
investment in health and safety knowledge.
William Bell is the regional manager of Scotland for
the health and safety trainer Pivotal Performance.
He has worked in the training industry since
1977.
There can be few people who
circle the date of their next
safety training session in their
diary and jump for joy, unable
to contain their excitement –
well, OK, I do know a few health
and safety professionals who
act like this
34 rail prOfEssiONal : january 2010
RPJan10 pp34 Training.indd 34 10/12/09 15:30:27
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