Safety advisors need accreditation, says HSE Chair
July 6th 2009

Health and safety advisers need accreditation to ensure they meet appropriate standards of professional competence, the Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told guests at an International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) reception.

“We do believe that there is a need for an accreditation system within the competency framework for health and safety professionals,” said Judith Hackitt, who continued: “We have no interest in HSE directly controlling or regulating such a scheme, but we are very keen to ensure that all professional bodies who establish an accreditation scheme do so in a way that measures competence in practice, not just acquired knowledge."

“Accreditation must include continuing professional development as a requirement as well as a means of sanction, with real teeth, for anyone who acts unethically in their professional activities – including providing inappropriate advice or guidance.”

She said that those involved in health and safety needed to be competent to assess and manage risk by applying common sense, taking a proportionate approach and exercising judgment about what is reasonable.

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