‘Urgent action’ needed on work-related suicide prevention and investigation, says GMB

On World Suicide Prevention Day [Wednesday 10 September], GMB Union is calling for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to investigate work-related suicides.

Currently, incidents of suicide do not meet the reporting requirement under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

There is also no requirement for employers to include any reference to suicide prevention or risk mitigation in company policies.

The union is calling on the HSE to record deaths by suicide on workplace premises, or where work may have been a contributory factor.

It is also calling for changes to legislation, requiring all businesses to have a focus and policy on suicide.

Peter Hall, GMB Senior Health and Safety Officer, said:

“Employers have a legal duty to keep their staff safe, and that duty should include employees’ mental wellbeing.

“It’s long past time for the HSE to start tackling work-related suicides and it must require employers to do more to protect their staff.”

Diane Timmins, GMB activist, said:

“We need urgent action to improve the prevention and investigation of work-related suicides.

“Tragically, deaths by suicide are increasing and we know that certain professions, such as tradespeople, are particularly at risk.

“The HSE exists to protect workers – it cannot continue to ignore the danger posed by work-related suicide.”