One of the things I come up against in my job, is people who think they are above health & safety. It is, more often than not, older guys. Their constant claims that they are ‘old school’ and are victims of ‘health & safety gone mad’, puts me off engaging them. They have, in general, been conned by the tabloids that they are the victims of regulation. It’s a load of old tosh. They are a danger to themselves and others.

H&S Certification

I try to explain that construction industry H&S certification is there to eliminate clowns, not to persecute sensible people using common sense. Health & Safety, like anything else, is defined by the lowest common denominator. Death and accidents have dropped massively since the CSCS scheme was introduced, so someone is getting it right. Most construction workers pass the course because it is basic. The ones that don’t, are kept out of harms way.

So, let’s get one thing straight: nobody who is sane wants to work in an unsafe or unhealthy environment. Okay, maybe a little bit of danger might add some excitement to your day but it shouldn’t really. However, there’s a fine line between a thrilling workplace and being surrounded by idiots who can’t or won’t pass a basic health & safety course.

An Accident Scenario

Imagine a busy building site. There are live cables around, and electricians are working without CSCS/ECS cards because they are ‘old school’. You’re wearing a hard hat and safety goggles, but you’re still feeling a bit uneasy. Suddenly, you hear a loud bang, and you turn to see that someone has cut through a live cable. You rush over to help, but they are dead. It is clear to you that this accident could have been prevented if proper safety measures had been taken. Oh shit.

Depressing isn’t it? So, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why health and safety in the workplace is a good thing:

1. It saves lives. That should be the end of the conversation. Nobody wants to say goodbye to their wife and kids, go to work and never come home again. By implementing basic safety procedures, employers, employers and contractors can help to prevent accidents and injuries on the job.
2. It boosts morale. Believe it or not, when contractors feel safe and protected at work, they’re more likely to be productive. No one with a fully functioning brain wants to work in a place where they feel like their life is in danger.
3. It reduces absenteeism. If employees or contractors get injured on the job, they’ll need time off to recover. By adhering to safety measures, employers , employees and contractors can help to prevent injuries and keep their workforce healthy.
4. It can save businesses a lot of money. Yes, you did hear that right. By investing in safety equipment and procedures, employers can help to prevent costly accidents and lawsuits. It’s a win-win situation!

Deregulation is for Crooks

So, there it is: An example that deregulation is only good for cowboys who want to put their staff at risk for profit. If you take time to study the people who want to deregulate industry, you will see what type of individuals they are. They are very rich people funded by even richer people who don’t want regulation to stand in the way of profit.

None of that is of any use to the worker, only a danger.