Maybe you should define HSE? I have no idea what that stands for.
this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2024
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Sorry about that. Health safety and environment.
Thanks. Is this some new corporate trend? My workplace is pretty old-fashioned so I’m a little insulated from all these weird ideas they come up with.
It's the governing body for health and safety in the workplace (UK).
Maybe the equivalent of OSHA in the US?
Pretty much, yes.
Health and Safety Executive.
The idea isn't that one big accident is the result of many smaller ones. You theoretically could be completely safe and then have an unpredictable and terrible freak accident.
What the HSE are trying to say is that if you diligently record all your smaller incidents that it could draw a picture that helps you predict a bigger incident before it happens and implement control measures to mitigate that risk.
I've never worked in the UK, so I don't know what the processes are like, but here's my two cents from the perspective of probabilities.
It's possible to have a large, freak accident at an otherwise safe work environment. But if an environment has lots of small issues, it seems more likely for a larger issue to happen there.
I agree. If your workplace has 1000 slips, trips and falls every year, then,
A. Why is the floor so slippy / covered in obstacles, is the foot wear worn by employees appropriate etc?
B. How long until someone falls awkwardly, hits their head on the way down and dies? (An unlikely scenario, but with the worst possible consequence)
Reporting things like slips trips and falls is a pain in the arse but at the end of the day it's to protect you, your colleagues AND the employer, presumably OP is much more concerned with going home alive than you are about a few thousand pounds fine for the boss.
To the extent that talking about something can help, it can be helpful. It brings it to the top of mind so maybe individuals err on the side of safety when they otherwise wouldn't. Or it reminds workers of policies already in place.
To the extent it conflicts with the bottom line, it's a waste of time. Unless the company is willing to legit sacrifice profits for the benefits of HSE, it's just a nothing bullshit paper you have to sign.