Safety charity pours scorn on the HSE for failing to use publicity as a deterrent

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) fails to publicise the vast majority of its convictions—including those involving deaths—according to research.

The research shows that in 2007, the HSE only issued a press release following 33% of its cases—167 cases out of 502—that resulted in a conviction. In 335 of these cases, it did not issue a press release

“In the 84 of these conviction cases that involved a death, the HSE only issued a press release following 45 of them—54% of cases.

The Centre for Corproate Accountability, which conducted the research, said: ‘This is despite the fact that one of the main purposes of these kinds of prosecutions is to act as a deterrent against other employers from committing similar offences.’

In the 84 of these conviction cases that involved a death, the HSE only issued a press release following 45 of them—54% of cases. In 39 death-related convictions the HSE did not issue a press release.

Topics