Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Executive

London Health and Safety Group

April 2014

What is Happening in Health and Safety?

Richard Boland

Head of Operations (London)

Southern Region

What I will Cover

• Background to current climate

• What has changed?

• Three themes for HSE’ s proactive work;

• Delivering Justice;

• Emerging from Recession

• Are you getting it right?

• Questions

Are We Getting it Right?

• Common Sense, Common SafetyLord Young of Graffham, December 2010

• Good Health and Safety, Good For Everyone

Chris Grayling, March 2011

• The Lofstedt Report- Reclaiming Health and Safety for All

Professor Lofstedt, November 2011

• The HSE Triennial ReviewMartin Temple 9 January 2014

So what did they say?

• ‘… the enemies of enterprise..’

• ‘…no business benefits from having a poor health and safety record’

• ‘…. the burden health and safety red tape has become too great, with too many inspections of relatively low risk good performing workplaces, frequently poor health and safety advice to businesses from badly qualified consultants, and a complex structure for regulation.’

But….

• ‘Good health and safety is vital to good business. Sensible and proportionate health and safety regulation can support economic growth by maintaining a healthy and productive workforce.’

Chris Grayling MP, Minister for Employment November 2011

• ‘The Robens’ approach has stood the test of time and- like Lord Young and Professor Lofstedt in their health and safety reviews- I found there was near universal agreement that the Health and safety at work Act 1974 remains valid and is fit for purpose.’

Martin Temple, Triennial Review Report, January 2014

• ‘…everyone has a duty to insist on the highest standards of health and safety….’

David Cameron October 2013 Commenting on the preparations for the World Cup in Qatar

So what has changed?

• ‘We will clamp down on rogue health and safety advisors who cost industry so much money….’

• ‘We will shift the focus of health and safety activity away from businesses that do the right thing, and concentrate on higher risk areas and on dealing with serious breaches of health and safety regulation.’

• ‘We will also seek to simplify health and safety regulation, and in doing so ease the burden on business’

Three Themes…

• Simplify the legislative framework

• Risk based targeting of inspection activities

• A sensible approach to risk management

Simplifying the legislative framework

• Exempting the Self EmployedBut what about Section 3 ?

• Review of Approved Codes of PracticeIs Industry ready to provide its own guidance?

• Mid Staffs Enquiry- regulating health CareThe role of the CQC?

• ‘The Red Tape Challenge’The role of Europe as we approach an election?

Risk Based Targeting of inspections

The Government has identified three categorisations of non major hazard industries:

• Those sectors which present comparatively high risk and where, in our judgement, proactive inspection remains necessary as part of the overall regulatory approach;

• Those sectors where there remains comparatively high risk but proactive inspection is not considered a useful component of future interventions;

• Those areas where proactive inspection is not justified in terms of outcomes

HSE’s inspection priorities for next year (22,000 targeted inspections)

• Waste and Recycling- Managing traditional risks from workplace transport; machinery safety; Fires and asbestos;

• Roofwork- At every visit check arrangements for managing roof maintenance and repair;

• Construction- Continue the campaign on refurbishment; Health risks and prepare for recovery;

• Manufacturing industries- Woodworking sector; Molten Metals; Silica and Welding Fume; Meat/Poultry and food processing; Isocyanates and machinery safety in vehicle repair

• Independent Social Care Providers- Providing a safe and healthy environment for vulnerable groups- Falls; patient lifting; control of water temperature; legionella

• Legionella- Management of cooling towers with the potential for major outbreaks

A sensible approach to health and safety?

Managing Roofwork

Why?

Sensible Risk?

Sensible Risk?

HSE’s Reactive WorkInvestigating and Delivering Justice

To investigate work related incidents and illhealth and take enforcement action to prevent harm and secure justice where appropriate– Incident Selection Criteria

http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/incidselcrits.pdf – Investigation Targets- Complete all fatal accident

investigations within 1 year of primacy being handed to HSE by the Police; Complete all non-fatal accident investigations within 1 year of the incident being reported to HSE

• Fee For Intervention- those who break health and safety laws are liable for recovery of HSE’s related costs, including inspection, investigation and taking enforcement action.

Delivering Justice

• 04/04/14: Roof fall lands Leicestershire firm in courtA Leicestershire roofing company has been fined after a worker was injured when he fell more than five metres through a fragile roof light.

• 04/04/14: Gwent property company and director in court for safety neglectA Gwent-based property development company and its director have been fined for putting the lives of workers at serious risk through unsafe roof work.

• 03/04/14: Waste firm prosecuted after worker severs fingers in machinery

Biffa Waste Services Ltd has been fined for safety breaches after a Derby agency worker lost the tips of two fingers in unguarded machinery.

• 31/03/14: Lancashire recycling firm fined over worker’s injuriesA young worker almost lost his arm when it became trapped in machinery at a recycling plant in Lancashire, a court has heard.

Emerging from Recession-Migrant Workers

Migrant Workers?

Leading the way forward- a sensible approach

• Have you identified your key risks?

• Have you implemented sensible controls?

• Does your workforce know how to use them and why?

• Are they doing what you want them to do?

• Have you empowered them to intervene when it looks wrong?

• How do you know you have the right culture?

Questions

What would you like to ask?