HC Deb 07 December 1972 vol 847 cc495-6W
Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of safety officers employed in industry how this figure compares with each of the years following 1968; and what proposals he has to encourage the training of safety officers and increase their numbers.

Mr. Dudley Smith

An inquiry made in 1968 disclosed that some 1,400 full-time and 2,300 part-time safety officers were employed in factories. I regret that no more recent information is available. The problem of ensuring that safety officers are properly qualified and adequately trained, and the question of which sectors of industry need to employ them, were considered by the Committee on Safety and Health at Work. The views expressed by the committee are now being studied.