Health And Safety Responsibilities Of Managing Directors/Chief Executives

The management of health and safety responsibilities for a business can vary considerably, depending on the size of the business and the structure of its management. Managing Directors/Chief Executives have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of their employees. This guidance covers their particular responsibilities related to the ‘health’ element of health and safety considerations.   

Managing Directors/Chief Executives

Managing Directors/Chief Executives are responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of all those who work or visit the organization. In particular, they:

Managing Directors/Chief Executives  

• Are responsible and accountable for health and safety performance at the organization; 
• Develop a strong, positive health and safety culture throughout the company and communicate it to all managers. This should ensure that all managers have a clear understanding of their health and safety responsibilities; 
• Provide guidance and leadership on health and safety matters to their management team; 
• Establish minimum acceptable health and safety standards within the organization; 
• Ensure that adequate resources are available for the health and safety requirements within the organization and authorize any necessary major health and safety expenditures; 
• Evaluate, approve and authorize health and safety-related projects developed by the organization’s health and safety advisers; 
• Review and approve health and safety policies, procedures, and programs developed by the organization’s managers; 
• Ensure that a working knowledge of the areas of health and safety that are regulated by various governmental agencies, particularly the HSE, Local Authorities, and the Environment Agency, are maintained; 
• Ensure that health and safety is included as an agenda topic at all formal senior management meetings; 
• Review and act upon major recommendations submitted by outside loss prevention consultants and insurance companies; 
• Ensure that health and safety is included in any tours such as fire inspections of the organization’s sites and note any observed acts or conditions that fall short of or exceed agreed health and safety standards; 
• Ensure that all fatalities, major property losses, serious lost workday injuries, and dangerous occurrences are investigated; 
• Establish, implement and maintain a formal, written health and safety program for the organization that encompasses all areas of significant health and safety risk; 
• Appoint controls to ensure uniform adherence to the health and safety program across the organization. These controls should include both corrective and follow-up actions; 
• Attend the health and safety committee meetings at the organization; 
• Review, regularly, all health and safety activity reports and performance statistics; 
• Review health and safety reports submitted by outside agencies and determine that any agreed actions have been taken; 
• Review the effectiveness of annually, and, if necessary, require revision of the site health and safety program; 
• Appraise the performance of the health and safety advisers and provide guidance or training where necessary; 
• Monitor the progress of managers and others towards achieving their health and safety objectives;