The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reportedly seeking to hire another 52 inspectors and has already started its recruitment drive through a civil service website, according to a report.
An article in the Sun claimed successful applicants could be paid as much as £72,000 per year, despite the coalition government’s plan to impose a freeze on new public sector jobs while spending cutbacks are being considered.
“These are all frontline essential posts in industries where the consequences of health and safety incidents can be devastating,” a spokeswoman for the HSE said. “The process is fully in line with government policy.”
In an online advert, the organisation warned would-be safety inspectors of the possible challenges they could face if successful and acknowledged that “not everyone” is likely to be receptive to the advice provided.
Last month, the HSE successfully prosecuted confectionery giant United Biscuits for health and safety failures at a plant in Halifax, with the firm ordered to pay £10,000 after an incident in which an employee lost two fingers.
Posted by Colette Paxton
I note that the Sun article “Scandal of 52 new ‘elf ‘n’ safety bods” has been replied to by the HSE Chief Executive (see http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/record/sun060810.htm for details) putting the record straight and pointing out that these posts are in the offshore, nuclear and petrochemical industries not ordinary inspectors but industry specialists where there pay is probably low compared to the industry norms for highly specialists technical staff. Ordinary front line Inspectors pay starts at about £26k for well qualified staff.
It would be nice if your article reflected the full story instead of giving the impression that all Inspectors are highly paid people. This only adds to the nonsense about health and safety professionals that the Sun and Mirror continue to perpetrate.