Health and safety in Scotland
A NEW taskforce is to be set up in a bid to improve health and safety in Scotland.
The committee, which has the backing of both Westminster and the Scottish Executive, will help co-ordinate efforts by the public sector such as the NHS and local authorities to stamp out serious injuries and deaths in the workplace.
The Health & Safety Committee Scotland was due to be launched today at a conference chaired by Health and Safety commissioner Margaret Burns at the city’s Hilton Hotel beside Edinburgh Airport.
Anne McGuire MP, parliamentary under secretary of state at the Scotland Office, said: "I am delighted to support the aims of today’s conference and the health and safety partnership for Scotland in bringing together devolved and reserved public policy initiatives with other partners in the health and safety field in Scotland.
"It makes absolute sense to target efforts to improve workplace health and safety through joined up working. This new partnership recognises the need to share skills, experience and knowledge for the benefit of Scotland’s workforce."
Allan Wilson MSP, deputy minister for lifelong learning and enterprise, added: "I look forward to hearing more about how the application of experience and expertise of businesses, trade unions and health and safety professionals - as well as the public services - can be better co-ordinated in reducing injury, ill-health and time off work."