The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently celebrated 50 years of workplace health and safety regulation.
On 1st January 2025, Britain’s health and safety watchdog marked the 50th anniversary of its official launch.
Created by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and launched on 1st January 1975, the regulator has spent five decades working to reduce workplace fatalities, injuries and ill-health, helping Great Britain to become one of the safest places in the world to work.
Back in 1974, 651 people lost their lives at work. The HSE’s latest annual statistics for workplace fatalities in 2023-24 show that number has now dropped down to 138.
Workplace health and safety mission still relevant
But, 50 years since their launch, the national regulator for workplace health and safety has not gotten complacent and remains as dedicated as ever to protecting people and places and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
For its Chief Executive, Sarah Albon, it’s a mission that is just as relevant now as it was 50 years ago. She explains:
“Over the past half century, the Health and Safety Executive has led the way in establishing Great Britain as a safe place to work. As we look ahead to the next 5o years, we recognise there is still much for HSE to take on.
“We’re proud of our successes over the last five decades, but the fact remains that any work-related death is a tragedy, and there are still far too many workers suffering ill-health brought about by work activity.”
HSE to build on strong foundations
Talking of the HSE’s evolving role in regulating workplace health and safety and its work for the future, she adds:
“In 2022, we launched our 10-year strategy, Protecting People and Places, to build on HSE’s strong foundations and address our current and future challenges.
“So today, HSE’s role goes beyond worker protection to include public safety assurance on a range of issues. Recent years have added new responsibilities, such as becoming the appointed Building Safety Regulator and playing an extended role in chemical regulation, post-Brexit.
“It is hard to foresee what the world of work will look like in the next 50 years but, as ever, our fundamental principle will continue to be to make sure that those who create risk, take responsibility for controlling risk, and those who fail to do so will be held to account.
“We will continue to work with businesses, with industry, with other regulators and with government, to enable strong economic growth, while we continue to deliver our founding principles as we work to protect people and places.”
The future requires stronger protections for workers
The government also spoke of the continuing importance of the HSE’s work to improve workplace health and safety.
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, said:
“As we support more people to get into work through our Get Britain Working White paper, and as we move to strengthen protection for workers, their mission will be as important as ever – now and long into the future.”
The watchdog has a dedicated ‘HSE turns 50 webpage’ which includes a stakeholder pack that visitors can download with ideas to help them mark 50 years of workplace health and safety regulation.
Workplace health and safety training
First Response Training (FRT) is one of the UK’s largest and leading national training providers.
They deliver a wide and diverse range of training for businesses and organisations across all industry sectors and throughout the UK. Their course range includes training in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, mental health, food safety, health and social care and more.
Their health and safety training is mapped to UK standards and legislation and follows HSE guidelines. The portfolio includes courses such as Health and Safety, Managing Health and Safety, Risk Assessment, Accident and Incident Investigation, Working at Height, Asbestos Awareness and many more.
A trainer from FRT says:
“We believe in creating safer working environments with people who care. This is our vision and central to our services. It means providing training that helps to protect people’s physical and mental health, safety and welfare.
“Any life lost at work is obviously one too many, and non-fatal injuries can also have significant, life-altering impacts on workers.
“The HSE carries out vital work to help protect workers across Britain. It’s equally important that all organisations across all industry sectors continue to ensure that they regularly undergo essential training in health, safety and welfare to protect staff and the general public.”
FRT offers a guide to promoting positive mental health at work, a guide to creating a happy and inclusive work environment and lots of other free guides and resources.
For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.