(Manston, Kent, UK - 3rd July 2024) Safety and Management Solutions Ltd (SAMS) today launched its ‘An Anniversary Worth Celebrating’ campaign to mark the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Many employees take things like drinking water, toilets, or basic PPE for granted. Yet these and many more provisions only became mandatory across all UK workplaces with the advent of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act, SAMS has launched its campaign with a lighthearted video highlighting the impact of the law on workplace safety.

Shot with local actors and produced here in Kent, the ‘Life of Brian’ parody addresses scepticism around health & safety. Riffing on the ‘What have the Romans ever done for us’ sketch, it poses the question: what has the Health and Safety at Work Act ever done for us?

‘An Anniversary Worth Celebrating’ recognises not just the impact the law had on workplace safety at the time, but also its continuing legacy. The campaign aims to highlight the many ways in which the Health and Safety at Work Act laid the ground for future safety laws, and continues to influence legislation and attitudes today.

‘An Anniversary Worth Celebrating’ is the brainchild of Lee Sadd, former HGV driver and now Managing Director of SAMS; and Operations Director Chris Brenchley. Both have seen the impact of the Health and Safety at Work Act first-hand through their careers in safety training and consultancy.

“We at SAMS felt it was important to acknowledge the Health and Safety at Work Act’s introduction as it completely changed the working world, by placing absolute duties on employers to provide safe workplaces to employees,” said Chris. “The campaign is our effort to shine a light on what was a historic piece of legislation.

“The ‘Life of Brian’ parody is a really good way to show that behind all of the negativity and ‘old wives tales’, there are genuine provisions that are there to keep us all safe and which we all benefit from – it is easy to forget this and take it for granted!”

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 established the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which continues to enforce safety legislation today. It was also the first piece of legislation to apply universal health and safety standards to all industries, not just those that were deemed dangerous.

The law formed the basis for many future laws applying to specific aspects of workplace safety, from working at height to fire safety. As a result, modern workplaces are safer than ever, with 519 fewer workplace fatalities in 2023 than in 1973.

About SAMS

Safety and Management Solutions Ltd is a health & safety training and consultancy provider in Kent, UK. Based in Manston, SAMS provides training for individuals and companies in the South East, as well as online courses and consultancy services across the UK.

Pivoting to online training during the pandemic, SAMS is now one of the UK’s leading safety training providers, and an authority in UKATA Asbestos Awareness training and SIte Safety Plus.

SAMS has continued to grow with the provision of new services including fire risk assessments and environmental assessments, addressing major legislative changes around building cladding and environmental impact.

To find out more and watch the full video, please visit www.samsltd.co.uk/hswa or contact [email protected].

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