Big budget cuts mean HSE to cutback 700+ jobs. I have no doubt many will go on some sort of package and/or natural wastage! But these staff have taken a long time to train up and they are a valuable resource to keep employees and public safe from hazardous work activities. I cannot see this is a good move for the safety regulator.

Why employ safety advisers if you cut back on regulators?

Very good Ken. But less HSE Inspectors may mean less interest by bad employers in future and more accidents. It also floods the market with safety qualified people looking for jobs.

Morning, Seems at odds with the Young report, "Common Sense, Common Safety". My common sense (presuming I have any) would say if they are cutting 700 staff then the government are not serious about policing the safety aspect of the workplace any more! So if the chances of getting visited are reduced and prosecuted even more reduced why should any "Employer" bother with the expense of safety? Cut the expense and take the chance?? Be interesting to see the union attitude to this cut and hear their arguments. Take Care

The HSE don't normally make cuts to inspector jobs during such times (they've been through such times before - the Tories hate the HSE). I suspect it will mean that they won't replace natural wastage (ie those that retire and those that leave for other reasons). I reckon at worst I some will be offered voluntary retirement. If anyone gets axed it's more likely to be admin. So it will be a cut in numbers but like I said they've been there before and coped. From my time in the HSE I would say I saw a lot of wastage and inefficiency compared to the private sector. Lots of people sitting in comfortable jobs with good benefits and they know it. By the way out of the all those that work behind the scenes in Policy and Sector etc most will be warranted inspectors just not front line inspectors (an area they could undoubtedly cut back on in my opinion). Why train poeple up to be inspectors and then stick them behind the scenes? Yes industry liaison etc is needed but in a more efficient way I suspect. It's not good for any dept to have financial cuts but these are difficult times and the HSE can't be immune to them. Like I said in my opinion the HSE and other Gov't depts and Gov't funded bodies are wholly inefficient and should get more in line with how the Private sector operates. I have just spent 4 months contracting for Gov't funded body and I was reminded of just how inefficent they are compared to the private sector. IMO sick leave in the public sector is so high becuase without question employees are given 6 months full pay and then 6 months half pay. It's nigh on impossible to sack someone for being incometent or inefficient and I've seen that scenario time and time again. A controversial opinion maybe but one I deeply believe in.

Rumour has it that 500 have asked to go by next February.