British firms have been advised that appointing their own safety expert to deal with all matters relating to the wellbeing of their staff is a good idea.
Jane White, research and information services manager at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said there are two ways of tapping into safety expertise - hiring an in-house professional or using outside knowledge, such as that provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE has said about 1.2 million people in the UK suffered from a work-related injury or illness in 2010-11, so the potential to improve in this area is huge.
But the best option is surely to have an expert on hand at all times during the working day, developing ways to improve safety and perhaps investing in new equipment, such as safety goggles, on a regular basis.
"Usually, you will find it is best to have someone internal, because they know the ins and outs of your business and your processes and how you work," Ms White explained.
