Risk-based engineering design would cut work-related deaths 11 December 2013

Steps to promote good engineering design specifically aimed at cutting death, injury and disease in Britain's workplaces, are outlined in a policy paper published yesterday (10 December 2013) by the Inter-Institutional Group on Health and Safety (IIG).

The influential group of safety and industry bodies launched its paper at the Palace of Westminster in front of some 70 parliamentarians, industry leaders, academics, health and safety professionals and senior engineers.

"Engineering can deliver many of the solutions for keeping work safe, healthy, profitable and sustainable," insisted IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) head of policy and public affairs Richard Jones, who chaired the IIG working group.

"There needs to be a greater appreciation of the business case for the early adoption of engineering solutions in occupational safety and health and the huge potential benefits to the economy and society," he continued.

"Designing-in health and safety saves lives, supports growth and sustains the economy."

Among other speakers were shadow employment minister Stephen Timms and Sir John Parker, president of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

"It is an essential purpose of engineering to avert failures and to make continuous improvements that protect the safety and welfare of all of our employees and the wider public," said Sir John.

"The business case for health and safety is well articulated in the paper that the IIG has published today and I welcome it."

In 2012—13, nearly 150 people were killed at work in the UK and an estimated 175,000 were seriously injured.

The IIG cites high-profile projects such as the London Olympics Velodrome as exemplars of safely designed engineering.

The IIG wants the UK to do more to embrace good engineering and design as the foundation of all major industrial projects – putting the practice at the heart of socially responsible business and government.

The body is encouraging engineers to research the health and safety risk implications for proposed projects more carefully and to embed what it calls 'risk intelligence' in procurement standards with a hierarchy of risk controls.

To read The business case for engineering in health and safety in full, use the link below.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
IOSH
Royal Academy of Engineering

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