Kate Walker

Diabetes Safety Organisation

The Diabetes Safety Organisation (DSO) was established to address the ever-present and increasing safety risk posed by diabetes. The business structure provides awareness and information through an online platform aimed at individuals across all levels of a company, highlighting the condition, the risk associated with diabetes and simple steps that can be taken to create a safer working environment. A staggering 7% of the population have diabetes, on a site of 1000 people, 70 will have the condition. Diabetes is an invisible condition which can cause an individual to suddenly lose consciousness from a hypoglycaemic episode. Civil and criminal liability could follow if steps have not been taken to identify and eliminate the risk. Many people have heard about diabetes, yet employers seem reluctant to take steps to manage the risk. Employers have a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that their employees and those affected by what the employer does are not exposed to risk to their health and safety (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974). If diabetes related symptoms contribute to a work place accident and an employer has taken no steps to assess and reduce the risk, then the employer will commit a criminal offence and face a significant fine. The DSO are the only company providing these services in the UK and work closely with international law firm, Gowling WLG.