Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission, has sent a letter to contacts in Local Strategic Partnerships and Government Offices highlighting the importance of workplace health and safety in contributing to the delivery of Local Area Agreements.

As a statutory ‘Named Partner’ in the new local government framework, the Health and Safety Executive is keen to help councils secure the delivery of LAA targets. Despite there being no specific health and safety National Indicator, there are more than two dozen indicators towards which workplace health and safety can make a positive contribution (further details of the indicators can be found in the annex to the letter).

The HSE will be writing further to Chairs of Local Strategic Partnerships in early 2008 with additional guidance to highlight the impact that ill health and injuries in the workplace have on the local economy and how workplace health and safety may contribute to LAA targets. Please feel free to disseminate this letter to any relevant contacts you may have.

Charles Loft
Policy Officer
020 7665 3874
charles.loft@lacors.gov.uk