Sign-up to sensible risk

Buckinghamshire Chief Executives sign up to the principles of sensible risk management

Buckinghamshire Chief Executives were keen to add their support to the Sensible Risk Management Campaign when they collectively signed up to the principles of sensible risk management. In signing-up to the campaign the Chief Executives publically stated their commitment to encourage a sensible and proportionate approach to risk management.

In the photo: Chris Williams, Chief Executive, Buckinghamshire County Council, Andrew Grant, Chief Executive, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Alan Goodrum, Chief Executive, Chiltern District Council, Chris Furness, Chief Executive, South Bucks District Council, Karen Satterford, Chief Executive, Wycombe District Council and Heather Bryant  HSE's Divisional Director, Health and Safety Executive, East and Southeast Division.

Greater Manchester Local Authorities joined HSE's David Ashton to sign-up to the principles of sensible risk together. In signing-up together theses authorities are sending out a strong message that they are about practical steps to manage real risks, not bureaucratic back-covering.  The event was hosted by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), and the authorities attending include Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan. Warrington as an associated member of AGMA also signed-up.

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Local Authorities, HSE and others are too often criticised for making "nannying" health and safety decisions that stop people living their lives. Many of the stories are outright myths, but some contain a grain of truth, where a manager has – usually with the best of intentions – gone beyond what the law and common sense require. Whatever the background such stories do no one’s reputation any good and they distract attention away from the real priorities and the wealth of good work done by local authorities.

Sign-up to sensible risk was launched at the Local Government Association’s national conference on 3 July 2007.  The chief executives of HSE, the Local Government Association and a number of Local Authorities became the first to publicly sign-up to the HSC’s principles of risk management.

Local Authority Chief Executives can join the campaign – just email us at: sensiblerisk@hse.gsi.gov.uk. Alternatively, if you are a local authority employee and would like to see your authority signed up to the campaign, why not get in touch with your Chief Executive and encourage them to join?