HSE proud to fly Suffrage Flag over Buxton laboratory

Britain’s regulator for workplace health and safety celebrated 100 years of votes for women by flying the women’s Suffrage Flag over its world leading laboratory in Buxton.

On Monday 15 October 2018 HSE hosted the Suffrage Flag relay event, one of the UK Government celebrations to mark the 100 year anniversary of some women obtaining the vote.

Over the course of 2018 the Suffrage Flag is travelling around government departments and agencies across the UK. The flag is purple, green and white, the colours of the Women’s Social and Political Union or Suffragettes, white for purity, purple for dignity and green for hope.

To mark the occasion staff held an EqualiTea morning, during which a display of archive material on women’s contribution to health and safety at work over the last 100 years was celebrated.

Special guests included local MP Ruth George, representatives from the Safety and Reliability Society and local charity Crossroads Derbyshire (formerly High Peak Women’s Aid), Sheila Pantry (editor of “Women of Courage”) and local historian Alan Roberts.

The event also raised funds for Crossroads Derbyshire, which covers the whole of the High Peak, and works with more than 500 families each year who are escaping domestic abuse.

Dr Karen Russ, Director of HSE Science said: “We were immensely proud to have hosted this event. It was a celebration that brought together so many people reflecting our pride at the laboratory being based in this wonderful location. We had the opportunity to discuss the impact women have had on science and regulation in HSE, equality at work and increasing the number of women working in science and engineering.

“Vicky Bunnage, Business Officer at Crossroads Derbyshire said: “Thank you so much to all at HSE for inviting us along to this event and raising funds to support women experiencing abuse here in the High Peak. It was great to be part of the celebration of some women getting the vote and we would like to thank the HSE and all the organisers for including us.”