§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to develop a system to ensure that contractors have appropriate arrangements in place(a) to train their staff in health and safety and risk management and (b) to record and monitor contractors' health and safety performance. [120628]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 places a duty on all employers to train their staff in health and safety and risk management procedures. In order to comply with this, national health service trusts must satisfy themselves that training has been provided by their contractors to those contractors' staff.
Enforcement is legally the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive. The Department will also be reminding NHS trusts of their duties in this area and the value that good relationships with contractors can have in new guidance to be produced in the autumn of 2003.