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News release

6 October 2010 - NR 41/10

Don’t let cost-cutting cost lives

The Coalition Government’s cuts in spending could place public service workers and users at greater risk of injury or illness unless properly managed across departments, a leading health and safety body warned today.

IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) fears the recognised workplace dangers of organisations cutting costs – including excessive working hours, ageing equipment and lack of training – are the “hidden dangers” of Budget deficit reduction.

If not fully considered, organisational changes, such as reducing staff levels, combining departments and changes to roles and responsibilities, can increase risk of illness or injury, advise the Government’s own health and safety experts.

Now, IOSH wants the Government to heed its own advice and make cast-iron assurances that the safety and wellbeing of police, social workers and civil servants – and the people they serve – remain top priorities as its departments look to make savings.

The chartered body called on the Government to ensure its managers are well-trained and follow sensible health and safety guidelines as they look at where and how to cut costs, including:

• Assess the effect of proposed changes on the control of hazards in your workplace
• Ensure your department’s re-organisation leaves adequate levels of trained and competent staff in areas which can have a safety impact
• Make sure staff are kept fully abreast of organisational changes before, during and after they happen – and monitor their impact
• Provide training and support to staff with new or different roles

IOSH Chief Executive Rob Strange said: “We are not entering into the political debate on the Budget deficit here. What worries us is that hard-pressed managers looking to meet targets on savings will cut corners when safeguarding the health and safety of their staff.

“The dangers posed by cost-cutting to people involved in delivering or using public services are hidden behind all the talk of how fast and by how much our country’s Budget deficit is reduced.

“We want the Government to think about the implications of impending cutbacks on the safety, health and wellbeing not only of the people it employs, but of the people who use its services.

“In 2008/09, 178 people were killed at work and an estimated 246,000 were injured. By setting out clear advice to its managers about how savings can be made without putting people at greater risk of stress, injury and illness, the Government will avoid adding to this terrible toll.”

- Ends -

Notes for editors:

Media call
Media interested in interviewing IOSH Chief Executive Rob Strange OBE or IOSH Policy and Technical Director Richard Jones please call media manager Tim Walsh on 0116 257 3252 or 07976 604715 or email tim.walsh@iosh.co.uk

About IOSH
IOSH is the chartered body for health and safety professionals. With more than 37,000 members in 85 countries, we’re the world’s biggest professional health and safety organisation.

We set standards, and support, develop and connect our members with resources, guidance, events and training. We’re the voice of the profession, and campaign on issues that affect millions of working people.

IOSH was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity with international NGO status.