Health and safety professionals have renewed their calls for the regulation of their profession.
During an appearance by senior members of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in front of the Department for Work and Pensions select committee, it was argued that problems in public perceptions have arisen in the sector because anyone can set themselves up as a health and safety consultant or adviser.
"There are no controls and that’s why we are calling to make health and safety a regulated profession," stated IOSH policy and technical director Richard Jones.
He went on to say that, if the government succeeds in its goal of supporting one million people to come off incapacity benefit, there will be "a lot of potentially vulnerable people and there needs to be somebody there in the workplace to look after them".
Recently, the IOSH warned companies that new corporate manslaughter legislation due to come into force next month could leave some firms facing substantial fines, court-ordered publicity, far-reaching improvement orders and suspension of all or part of the board of directors.