The Health and Safety Commission and the Institute of Directors have unveiled new guidance for company directors on their health and safety responsibilities.

The document has been written by directors for directors and will remind company owners that it is their responsibility to lead health and safety practices across their organisation.

The guide has been backed by the health and safety minister Lord McKenzie of Luton. "The health and safety of employees is a moral and ethical obligation for each and every employer and this must be driven home from board level,” he said.

“Only this way will we ensure that health and safety is taken seriously. This guidance clearly sets out the agenda for effective leadership of health and safety.”

The document can be downloaded from www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg417.pdf [1].