It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to John Crockett, health and safety manager at Acorn Safety Services, an independent health and safety consultancy based in Northampton.
With businesses across the UK facing the threat of recession and economic uncertainty fears are growing that some may choose to cut corners when it comes to keeping on top of their health and safety obligations.
In the past year, we have already seen a steep increase in the number of businesses being fined for not carrying out regular surveys and assessments, something I believe we could see continue well into 2023 and beyond.
But turning your back on health and safety is the worst thing you can do. In fact, being proactive and engaging with a health and safety expert at the very beginning of your project could be the best decision you ever make.
Take asbestos for example. If you think it’s a problem from the past, think again.
Despite being banned from all new buildings since 1999, a report published by the Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Association (ATaC) has highlighted the enormous scale of the asbestos problem currently facing the UK. Of more than 128,000 buildings surveyed between October 2021 and March 2022, a staggering 78% were found to contain asbestos. In total more than 700,000 individual items of asbestos were found and 71% of those were damaged, posing a significant threat to health.
On some construction sites, building work has begun without an asbestos survey even taking place, putting everyone on site at risk of developing deadly mesothelioma.
While next year will undoubtedly be challenging for many businesses, health and safety in all its forms should remain right at the top of everyone’s agenda.
