Careful targeting

Contrary to the claim that the Health & Safety Executive is targeting businesses in Scotland more than those elsewhere (your report, 3 September), HSE operates a consistent Britain-wide enforcement approach that is line with the policy published on our website.

Comparing enforcement year on year is misleading, as is making a direct comparison with other parts of Britain.

While we have some broad regulatory priorities that are pertinent to the whole of ­Britain, there are also initiatives relevant to some areas which can lead to different activity ­patterns at different times – such as the refurbishment initiative in the construction sector which we ran in the early part of this year.

The key point here is that ­enforcement notices are issued in response to serious health and safety shortcomings.

The real issue of concern should be the poor standards that have led to the notices being served in the first place.

David Ashton

Health & Safety 
Executive

Merton Road

Bootle, Merseyside