The HSE (UK only)?

Question

Unessessary or a real life saver?

Answer 1

My experiences with the HSE, have been a bit of a battle..1 example . I had 2 clip-board wielding Ms Stricts...in nice shiny new Hi-Vis bibs.. stomping all over my new office flooring..to inspect...wait for it.... ...the speed at which the swivel chairs would flee across the floor..! I fell about laughing my head off.. But - they are needing ..we don't want anyone endangering themselves on slippy floors.. Yes - they can be busy bodies - but necessary..

Answer 2

Of course - a life saver. Even one life saved is good.
Any bureaucracy can be said to be unecessary by those who would ride roughshod over us.Remember the twaddle about how minimum pay was going to lose us jobs? Didn't happen. Now Asda is giving even the lower paid youth the adult rate. Good on them!
Actually, I think the HSE could do with beefing up a bit. How many times do you see contractors in the street not using health and safety kit? And they are just the ones we can see! Too many good people die or are injured each year. We don't live in the dark ages anymore so employers have to be accountable to staff and the public

Answer 3

I wouldn't say a life saver, but it has brought a level of safety to the working conditions we in the UK have to put up with.
The HSE will not just go into a firm and check it out for its safety
standards. If someone complains to them about serious safety
faults in the firm they work for, the HSE will just get in touch with the firm and queery the subject.
The only time the HSE seems to get really involved, is when someone gets killed or seriously injured. AND that is too late,
especially for the people involved.

Answer 4

real life saver. Lots of people are not dead because of the HSE. The HSE is not perfect, but better with than without.

I'm an engineer in the energy business. There is no question about this. OK so the stuff about changing light bulbs in the office is annoying, but so what. There are bigger things at stake.

Answer 5

I worked on oil rigs in the North Sea for 23 years and we used to think they were a pain. BUT they did keep the oil companies in check. They are on the side of the employee, and Okay the inspectors were a bit naive but they were well meaning.

I'm now working in a less savoury offshore location where there is NO safety regulatory authority whatsoever and the oil company can cut whatever corners they like. They also hush up all their near misses.

The HSE might be unnecessary but I guarantee you will miss them if they're not there!!!!

Answer 6

Unecessary. They act well beyond their powers and cause industry and comerce costs that are disproportionate to the benefit. A dose of common sense is the best health and safety policy you can have.

Yes, building sites and similar places are notorious for accidents, but in the real world how many accidents that happen in an office environment would not occur if common sense were applied. In our own homes we are allowed to change light bulbs, move furniture, reach up to shelves, but in the workplace these activities are restricted or prohibited unless full training is given.

At the risk of alienating people, I'd day that HSE is the career path for people who don't want to work outdoors as a traffic warden.

Answer 7

A real life saver.There is not enough of them,and they are doing their best.It is not good enough and to make up for this failure are trying to use Health and Safety as a form of highway code,if you break the law and get caught expect to pay the paltry fines the courts impose.Do not forget employees as well as business can be taken to court and dealt with if necessary.
It is the courts that let the system down.

Answer 8

Very necessary considering the plebs that are allowed to run dangerous firms in this country.

Answer 9

I think it does a good job overall, although i dread to get too involved with debate on the NHS and its Runnings

Answer 10

Health and Safety Executive is UK only and is responsible for your Health and Safety !!!!!!!!!! so ...er......A Real Life Saver......