The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it is keen to get employees to take a more proactive approach to health and safety in the workplace.

Research from the group reveals that getting workers involved has a positive effect on health and safety performance and that sites where this is encouraged are better places to work in this respect as a result.

It claimed that accident rates where staff feel they have a “genuine” say in health and safety matters stand at 14 per cent, compared with 26 per cent where workers do not feel as involved.

The HSE is set to speak on the matter at this month’s Trade Union Congress conference in Liverpool, where it will comment on its strategy to get staff more involved in health and safety issues.

HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “Prevention of pain and suffering to people caused by work is the major driver for us all, but doing the right things, the right way also delivers improved productivity, increased workforce commitment and enhanced reputation.”

Meanwhile, HR staff at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue have recently received training on how to drive emergency vehicles in the event that fire-fighters go on strike.

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