NOT a week goes past without a headline in one of our tabloid papers on the “madness” of health and safety.

These stories are almost always a gross misrepresentation of the truth and are often aimed at milking the anti EU sentiment in the country – blaming “Brussels” for an over intrusive safety culture.

The plain fact is that our safety culture often isn’t intrusive enough.

There have been some obvious milestones in legislation over the years.

The Health and Safety Act 1974, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

These might sound very dry and boring but they cover crucial issues such as the safe operation of workplace machinery, risk assessment of working practices and safe and healthy workplaces. All absolutely vital.

The impact of a serious injury on a working person and their family can be devastating and sometimes permanent but there are also sound economic reasons for a robust safety culture at work.

There is now an enormous body of evidence to show that staff who feel safe at work are more loyal and productive and add to the quality of whatever workforce they belong to – be it a service industry such as healthcare or in a factory type environment.

There is also the wider social element to injuries at work such as the cost of benefits and loss of tax revenues.

Also, look behind the headlines and you will often find that it’s the risk of litigation that terrifies companies.

The fear of being sued will sometimes drive people to ever increasing avoidance of risk.

Don’t blame health and safety for this. Blame our litigious society and no win, no fee solicitors.

  • Peter Atkinson is city councillor for North Portslade