The government should refrain from introducing new health and safety laws because directors are taking responsibility for such issues themselves.

That is according to a survey conducted by the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), which revealed that over 75 per cent of companies discuss health and safety at board meetings.

It also showed that over 99 per cent of companies undertake health and safety policy and risk assessments.

Commenting on the findings of the survey, Steve Pointer, head of health and safety policy at EEF, said: "This endorses EEF’s view that the best way to promote best practice health and safety is to promote
good leadership rather than introducing new statutory duties that would lead to a ‘box ticking’ mentality."

Mr Pointer went on to explain that the survey illustrated that "active leadership by directors" on matters of health and safety was "very definitely the norm, not the exception".

The survey also highlighted the fact that businesses understand that implementing proper health and safety measures will save them money "in the long term".

Shattered Lives is the current campaign being run by the Health and Safety Executive, which aims to help companies avoid the serious injuries suffered by over one thousand people a month due to slips,
trips or falls at work.