Quarry - Be seen Be Safe
Colin Fergusson and Brian French were killed at Scottish Coal’s Pennyvennie site, in Dalmellington, East Ayrshire on 26 February 2007 when their vehicle was crushed by a 100 tonne dump truck. The truck driver could not see their vehicle because it was in a blindspot.
At Ayr Sheriff Court, Scottish Coal Company Ltd was fined a total of £400,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) HSWA
HSE Inspector Norrie Buchanan said:
“These two deaths were entirely preventable and arose from the clear failure of Scottish Coal to provide suitable means of communication between different vehicles on site in order to reduce the risk of collisions, as well as a failure to manage vehicles on their site. Earth-moving vehicles such as dump trucks or bulldozers have poor visual fields due to their large size.
It is crucial that additional steps are taken to ensure that the drivers of these dump trucks are aware of other smaller vehicles around them. Control measures to reduce the risk are easily available at a minimal cost. Installing an additional camera on the side of the dump truck, fitting a raised roof beacon or other means of improving visibility on the Landrover could prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Ed - It s deeply regrettable than anyone dies simply because obvious precautions were not taken.
Breach of Asbestos Laws
R Maskell Ltd of Loughton, Essex has been fined £150,000 with costs of £30,000 at Ipswich Crown Court. The company pleaded guilty to s2(1) HSWA and reg 18 of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996.
In the same case LCH Contracts Ltd of Great Burstead, Billericay, Essex was fined £70,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,821.00. The company pleaded guilty to two breaches of Health and Safety namely reg 7 and reg 15 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
Between 15th August-27th September 2005, R Maskell was carrying out refurbishment work and had, after discovering asbestos, sub-contracted LCH Contracts to carry out asbestos removal at St Francis Tower, Franciscan Way, Ipswich. HSE inspectors visited the site on 27th September 2005 to inspect asbestos removal work taking place. They became very concerned over the state of the building, as there was debris on floors and in black sacks on most floors of the 15 storey tower block and some appeared to be asbestos containing materials (ACM’s). Work was then stopped in the building. The HSE investigation found the building to be contaminated with ACM’s. The case was unusual because third party migrant workers had disturbed the site and interfered with the asbestos removal work.
HSE Inspector, Nicola Surrey said:
“Every year 1000 people who worked in building maintenance and repair trades die from past exposures to asbestos fibres. The exposure of employees from R Maskell Ltd and LCH Contracts Ltd to asbestos, could and should have been avoided by straightforward safety precautions. HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of the law in such a way. Asbestos must be properly managed to prevent people dying from asbestos diseases in the future. If you are responsible for managing the maintenance and repair of a building, you must manage any asbestos in it. HSE has provided guidance to help people understand what they have to do to comply with their legal obligations.”
Ed - LCH has appealed against their sentence.
Fatal Plunge
On 25 October 2004, Mr Handley was one of four workers employed by Spanclad Ltd to carry out the re-cladding of a warehouse at Scottish Courage Ltd, Lodge Farm Industrial Estate, in Northampton. Mr Handley was working on a tower scaffold positioned on timber boards, which were placed on top on a fragile cement sheeted canopy in the warehouse loading bay. The top rail of the scaffold was missing and the tower was placed at an angle on a weak support base, causing it to move. Mr Handley fell approximately seven meters from the tower scaffold, through the canopy onto the yard below, suffering fatal injuries.
Spanclad Ltd, of Smethwick, West Midlands, has been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaching s2 (1) HSWA. Principal contractors for Spanclad, Westminster Building Co Ltd, based in Derby, was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the same act at Northampton Crown Court.
HSE Inspector Richard Lockwood said:
“This was an entirely preventable incident which led to the death of a local man. Darren Handley, a 36-year-old from Dudley, was killed when he fell from a tower scaffold, which was not the right equipment for the work he was undertaking and was also erected incorrectly. The access to the scaffold was across fragile materials, which presented another significant danger to the worker. This tragedy could have easily been avoided if the two companies had properly planned the work to ensure adequate safety measures were in place for people working at height.”
Fatal Fall
Carillion JM Ltd, formerly known as Mowlem PLC, was fined £70,000 and ordered to pay £24,000 in costs at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday 30 July 2008, for breaching s(1) HSWA.
Mr McCully, from Motherwell, Scotland, had worked at the Air BP Ltd site for 14 weeks building large steel oil storage tanks. On the day of his death he was altering work platforms to allow a roof structure to be lifted into place by four cranes. Mr McCully was standing on a platform on the outside of the tank close to the top, ready to rebuild an internal scaffold platform. As he climbed onto the incomplete platform on the inside of the tank, one of the three platform boards snapped and he fell 17 metres to the floor below. He died as a result of his injuries.
HSE Inspector John Underwood said:
“This was a wholly avoidable incident which led to unnecessary loss of life. I hope this case and the fine imposed will serve as a lesson to scaffold builders and the tank building industry, and will make sure others avoid a similar fate. Mr McCully was wearing a safety harness, in line with company policy, but there was no suitable anchor point for him to attach the lanyard to. Mr McCully was following company policy by wearing a fall arrest harness but there was no suitable anchor point for him to attach his lanyard to the rim of the tank. For the harnesses to be used effectively there needed to be about 50 anchor points around the rim of the storage tank. The company’s procedures did not require these to be fitted prior to the crane lift starting, and this was a major weakness in their system of work. Usually in the tank building industry it is easier to use a system of dedicated harness anchors that are welded into place prior to construction. “
Ed - Its appalling to see a worker following instructions wearing his harness only to find that.
Wooldridge Fined after Fall
Wooldridge Ecotec Ltd of London Road, Bagshot, Surrey, was fined £15,000 and £4971 costs after pleading guilty to a breach of section 3(1) HSWA. Nicholas Anderson, one of the company directors, was fined £5000 and ordered to pay £1657 costs after pleading guilty to a breach of s3(1) of the Act. Both companies were sentenced at the City of London Magistrates Court.
The prosecution was brought by the HSE following an incident on 11 March, 2005. Electrician, Barry Murrell, was seriously injured at the former Pirelli Cables factory at Church Manorway, Erith, after falling more than five metres. His injuries included a broken pelvis, fracture to his right hip, a shattered hip socket and a broken rib.
HSE inspector, Loraine Charles, said:
“Mr Murrell’s injuries were very serious, but the consequences could have been far worse. The risks of falls from height on this demolition project and the measures needed to control those risks had been identified on more than one occasion; Wooldridge simply failed to implement the necessary measures. The director, Mr Anderson, had personal knowledge of the circumstances surrounding or leading to this accident and he failed to take obvious steps to prevent it.”
Mr Murrell had entered the Pirelli tower, which was being prepared for explosive demolition, to reclaim some electrical cable for reuse elsewhere on the site. He and a colleague were on the first floor when he stepped on some steel sheet material, which was covering a hole, and it fell away beneath him. Mr Murrell landed on the ground floor 5.5m below.
The HSE investigation found that Wooldridge Ecotec Ltd had produced a health and safety plan containing risk assessments that identified appropriate measures, and there was an inspection by a Wooldridge’s Health and Safety Advisor. Nicholas Anderson was declared responsible for health and safety on the Pirelli site and for carrying out risk assessments for subcontracted work. Mr Anderson did not carry out any risk assessments for the electricians, nor did he instruct anyone to carry them out on his behalf. Wooldridge Ecotec Ltd did not take effective steps to control risks to subcontracted electricians, or prevent access to the tower once conditions within it had become hazardous. The company did not implement the findings of a previous risk assessment, for work being carried out by subcontracted electricians, particularly in respect of reclaiming the cable from the tower; or provide them with the appropriate information, instruction and supervision in respect of the changing conditions within the tower.
They Keep On Falling...
Simon John Ludgate, of Oakfield Avenue, Warsop, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, was fined £1,500 at Nottingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to breaching s2 (1) and 3 (1) HSWA and contravening reg 3 (1) (b) (ii) RIDDOR for an incident at the construction site at 82 Sheepwalk Lane, Ravenshead, Mansfield, during his role as manager for Real Estate (Midlands) Ltd. He also pleaded guilty to breaching s3 (1) HSWA 1974 for an incident at the construction site on Trowell Road, Wollaton, Nottingham.
Ronald Leslie Cordon, aged 63, from Quarndon, Derby, suffered major injuries when he fell 2m from an unprotected wall on 6 November 2006 while doing bricklaying work on a housing construction site in Mansfield.
He fell onto the floor striking his head on some steelwork. Mr Corden was knocked unconscious and suffered cuts to his head with severe bruising and swelling, a fracture to his left thumb, which has resulted in permanent loss of movement, and severely bruised legs. He also suffered from nerve damage to his right temple and now suffers short-term memory loss. Ludgate failed to report the incident to the HSE.
At a second construction site at 52 Trowell Road, Wollaton, Nottingham, the HSE found two employees were at risk of falling from the front edge of a loading bay as there was insufficient protection in place. There was also a risk to members of the public from falling tiles due to the lack of edge protection.
HSE inspector for Nottinghamshire, Angus Robbins said:
“A series of errors resulted in a tragic incident causing permanent damage to a man’s health, but given the circumstances this could easily have resulted in a fatality. Throughout the work at the two construction sites there was a complete failure to plan the work, maintain the necessary protection at height or acknowledge the consequence of falls. Falls from height remain the most common cause of fatal injuries. Latest figures show that 45 people died from a fall from height at work in 2006/07, with 3,750 suffering major injury. More than half of all fatalities from falls occur in construction. Companies involved in building, refurbishment or maintenance should ensure that the work is planned properly and sensible measures taken so that workers are not exposed to risk. This case illustrates that risks should be properly assessed and the results acted upon to ensure that decisions can be taken on appropriate equipment and working practices to be used so employees are safe.”
Ed -Regulation 3 (1) (b) (ii) of the Reporting Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 states that an incident must be reported if “any person at work suffers a major injury as a result of an accident arising out of or in connection with work.” The regulations specify the types of injuries and occurances that must be reported.
Alcon Manslaughter
Sharaz Butt, the director of Alcon Construction Ltd of Norwich, was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Norwich Crown Court after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Wu Zhu Weng. He also received a five-year disqualification from acting as a company director after pleading guilty to breaching s37 HSWA.
Mr Butt was prosecuted by Norfolk police, with assistance from the HSE, over the incident on 31st January 2008. Mr Weng was working for Alcon Construction on the refurbishment of a building on Trowse, Norwich, when he fell 4m through a skylight, suffering fatal injuries.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Peter Jacobs said Mr Butt had shown a “cynical disregard” for his workers, including Mr Weng, by employing them illegally and failing to ensure their safety.
HSE Inspector Peter Nickerson said:
“The sentence handed down by the judge reflects the seriousness of the offence committed by Mr Butt. As company director, he was responsible for the health and safety of all his workers, and he failed to fulfil this responsibility. Mr Weng’s tragic death could have been prevented had his employer followed basic health and safety procedures. The skylight Mr Weng was working near had had not been properly covered and was a dangerous place to work. Mr Butt had also failed to prepare a method statement and risk assessment for the work he expected his staff to do, did not provide appropriate access and egress, and did not ensure that his staff received the necessary training to carry out the work. All employers have a duty to protect the safety of their workers. The construction industry in particular has one of the highest rates of fatalities in Britain, and HSE will not hesitate to prosecute those who put the lives of their employees at risk in this way.”
Ed - This is a sign of the growing desire to hold directors personally to account. A conviction for breaching s37 is a demonstration that the directors negligence was the attributable cause of the companies breach of health and safety law. The next case shows the increased determination to prosecute individuals.
Unguarded Mixer
Ammeraal Beltech Ltd, of Hertford, and production operative Graham Parker after a worker lost his hand in a workplace injury.
Graham Parker has been convicted at Bradford Magistrates Court of breaching s7 HSWA. He pleaded guilty and was given a two year conditional discharge plus costs of £500. Ammeraal Beltech Ltd had pleaded guilty in an earlier hearing to breaching the Act and was fined £20,000 plus costs of £1,143.20.
HSE inspector Paul Yeadon said:
“Mr Parker had been made aware, before the incident, of the absence of a guard on the mixer. He was asked to ensure that this absence was rectified, but he failed in his duty, resulting in an horrific injury to one of the staff. The employer, Ammeraal Beltech, also failed to protect the health and safety of its workers. The injured person will now have to live with the consequences of these failures for the rest of his life. The Health and Safety Executive will not hesitate to prosecute employers who put the health and safety of their workers in danger, or employees who similarly endanger their colleagues.”
Ed - s7 HSWA states: “It shall be the duty of every employee while at work (a) to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work; and (b) as regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to cooperate with him so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with.” These prosecutions are rare.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Fined
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS trust based in Grantham, has been fined £18,500 and ordered to pay full costs of £3,504.80 today after pleading guilty to breaching s2(1), and reg 5 (1) of the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999 at Boston Magistrates Court.
A visit by HSE inspectors to the Pilgrim Hospital at Boston revealed an employee had been cleaning the film processor for several years without proper safety precautions, exposing her to gluteraldehyde, which can cause skin and respiratory problems.
HSE Inspector Jo Anderson said:
“The Trust placed the health of one its workers at risk by failing to properly identify the risk of exposure and putting appropriate controls in place. In fact, the risk was only identified when HSE staff visited the hospital and banned the use of the film processor until steps were taken to reduce the exposure risks. All employers must have systems in place to ensure that work with hazardous substances is identified, in order that the health of employees can be properly protected. This should include non-routine work, such as cleaning, maintenance and out-of-hours work. Employees should always be made fully aware of precautions to prevent this type of exposure, which could have resulted in long-term health problems for the employee. Exposure to even very small amounts of gluteraldehyde can lead to allergic skin reactions, hay fever symptoms and asthma.”
Ed -I have dealt with a similar case in the past. In that case both the HSE and the trust confused gluteraldehyde and formaldehyde - leading to an acquittal, but the allegation of causing occupational asthma remained.
Taking a Strain
Catering equipment manufacturer Lincat Limited, of Whisby Road, Lincoln was fined £19,400 and ordered to pay £4,800 costs at Lincoln Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to breaching s2(3) HSWA, and contravening two regulations from the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992..
An oven assembler and his supervisor were both moving five pizza ovens, one at a time, from a waist-high assembly bench down to ankle-high pallets on the floor, without using any mechanical aids. The employees had not been made aware of how heavy the ovens were or how they should be moved safely, as a suitable risk assessment had not been carried out. The worker suffered a severe groin injury while moving one of the ovens.
HSE inspector Dr. Ian James Ellison said:
“Employers must ensure that this sort of work is properly planned to take account of health and safety risks, and that employees are made fully aware of the risks associated with manually handling objects. This includes knowing the weight of the load, considering any postural constraints of the lift and what equipment to use accordingly. These men were unaware that the weight of this product was more than 15 stone. One of the workers also needed almost nine weeks off work because of the incident, which highlights the severity of the injury and the need for a sufficient and suitable risk assessment to be conducted when any sort of manual handling is required.”
Ed - Lincat Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching:
s2(3) HSWA : “...it shall be the duty of every employer to prepare and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees and the organisation and arrangements for the time being in force for carrying out that policy, and to bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of all his employees.”
reg 4 (1) (b) (i) Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) requires every employer to “make a suitable and sufficient assessment of all such manual handling operations to be undertaken by them,” having regards to certain key factors.
reg 4 (1) (b) (iii) Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) requires every employer to “take appropriate steps to provide any of those employees who are undertaking any such manual handling operations with general indications and, where it is reasonably practicable to do so, precise information on the weight of each load and the heaviest side of any load whose centre of gravity is not positioned centrally.”.
Prosecution for failing to have a written statment of safety policy are rare. There are plenty of “free” examples available on the internet.
Gas Fitters Again
Mr Smith undertook gas related building work in Thanet in January 2007, targeting in particular elderly and vulnerable homeowners. The HSE and Kent Trading Standards (KTS) described how Mr Smith had reduced the height of two chimneys, which contained gas boiler flues, giving rise to a risk of the build up of carbon monoxide in the properties affected. Fortunately, no one was harmed.
HSE inspector Mike Walters said:
“We are pleased that justice has been done today. It is illegal to carry out gas safety work if you are not registered to do so. Mr Smith took advantage of these vulnerable, elderly residents and as a result, not only broke the law, but caused them deep distress, and potentially put their lives at risk. It is essential that individuals and companies who carry out work on chimneys adhere to the guidance given, including the Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998, to stop instances like this from happening again.”
HSE charged Mr Smith with breaching 2 counts of reg 8(1) of the Gas Safety Regulations 1998 involving undertaking work on the chimneys which resulted in a risk of carbon monoxide build up in the two properties involved. For these offences the Court imposed a fine of £13,998 and costs of £12,212.90.
KTS stated that Mr Smith breached two counts of reg 4A(1) Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 1998 by entering into a contract but failing to deliver written notice of consumers’ cancellation rights. The trader was also accused of one breach of s4 of the Business Names Act 1985 by failing to state contact details on an invoice where legal documents could be served.
Goodyear Dunlop Fined
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd, of Wingford Way, Birmingham, pleaded guilty on Tuesday 5th August 2008, to failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of employees under s2(1) HSWA. Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court imposed a fine of £13,500 with an order to pay costs of £2,888.04. The court also ordered the company to pay compensation of £4,000 to the injured worker. HSE prosecuted the company following an investigation.
On 15 June 2007 a casing operator was inspecting tyre casings when a forklift truck loaded with a four-high stack of heavy steel stillages (pallets) passed by. The stillages were not secured to each other or to the truck, and toppled onto the worker, causing two fractures to one of his ribs.
HSE inspector Amarjit Kalay said:
“It is important that individuals and employers remember their duties under the law to take reasonable care of the health and safety of others, who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. The injuries inflicted could have been significantly worse, or even fatal. Operators of lift trucks must ensure that they operate them in accordance with training and employers must ensure that they are used safely.”
Ed - Falling stillages tend to cause severe injury many of which can be fatal, an all too common occurrence.
School Trip Worries
An 8 year old boy Mickey Carter-Browne, from Silsoe, was injured during a school trip to the Kingswood Activity Centre at West Runton. He fell six metres from a climbing wall, sustaining a broken ankle and bruising to his pelvis, upper leg, left ankle and arms.
The incident occurred when Mickey reached a height of about six metres on the climbing wall. A click was heard and he fell onto the wooden floor below.
The HSE investigation identified that when the karabiner (metal loop) was attached to the harness, the screw had not been tightened, which allowed the karabiner to open when a load was applied. The investigation also found that the training and supervision procedures at the centre were not sufficient for the activities being carried out, and were not being routinely followed on the ground.
HSE Inspector Steve Gill said:
“This was an unfortunate incident which could have been prevented had the correct safety procedures been followed and the staff undertaking the activities properly trained and supervised. Instead, a child was injured and spent ten weeks in plaster, largely confined to a wheelchair, and another ten weeks on crutches. It is important to remember that the adventure activities sector as a whole has almost always demonstrated good practices in risk assessment and management, allowing activities to take place safely and enjoyably. HSE firmly believes that children must have the opportunity to participate in adventurous activities such as climbing, which are fun, healthy and provide experience and education in risk management. Statistically, one incident does not alter the good track record of an overall safe and well-managed sector.”
Ed -Where children are concerned it is all the more important to get health and safety right.
HAVS
Tews Engineering Limited, based in Petersfield, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to contravening s2(1) HSWA by failing to protect the health of employees, and reg 3(1) of The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for failing to carry out a proper risk assessment. The company was fined £8,500 for the first offence and £2000 for the second offence, plus costs of £10,500 at Aldershot Magistrates Court.
The employee involved, Mr Bill Leonard, made a complaint to HSE about his excessive use of vibrating tools while working at Tews Engineering, which had caused him to suffer ‘Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome’ (HAVS).
Mr Leonard informed his employer of his symptoms and asked to be re-deployed for the sake of his health. However, the company continued to require him to work predominantly with vibrating tools, exacerbating his health problems. Mr Leonard now has permanent damage to his hand, making it impossible for him to continue his work.
HSE Inspector Ray Kelly said:
“The worker in this case has suffered unnecessary, permanent disability because of a failure to manage his health and safety at work. Employers should take heed that when HSE finds evidence of flagrant breaches of health and safety law, particularly where there is a history of previous warnings and advice as was the case here, we will not hesitate to prosecute.”
Ed - This report suggests a flagrant breach of the law. No doubt Tew’s insurers will be increasing their premiums as a compensation claim is inevitable
Capita Group
HSE has notified bidders for the new gas installer registration scheme that it is awarding the contract to Capita Group Plc (CAPITA). The contract, which is valued at £14 million per annum, is awarded for a term of ten years and will be signed on 8th September 2008.
The new scheme is designed to strengthen and improve the governance and performance management arrangements between HSE and the new scheme provider. CAPITA will have incentives to improve gas safety and services continuously to gas consumers and installers and be held to account through a challenging set of key performance indicators. CAPITA will be required to introduce and promote a new independent brand which will provide an excellent opportunity to promote gas safety messages.
The new gas installer registration scheme will run from the 1st of April 2009 and will replace a scheme currently being operated by CORGI.
Harvest Time Advice
The HSE says that agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries to work in and has one of the worst fatal accident and occupational ill health records of any major employment sector. Last year there were approximately 8.1 deaths per 100,000 workers across the UK, where as the equivalent number in construction was approx. 3.7 deaths per 100,000 workers.
HSE Inspector Lawrence Murray said:
“Farming is a risky business. Within the agricultural industry the level of death and injury to farmers, workers, and members of the public is unacceptable. In 2006/07, 31 workers in Scotland lost their life at work and 2702 workers were seriously injured – of these, seven fatalities and 61 serious injuries were in the agricultural sector. However almost all of work related accidents can be avoided as the risks and precautions are well known. There is no excuse for poor maintenance of machinery or lack of guarding during the potato harvest. Potatoes are one of Scotland’s main crops and we hold a good reputation for our high quality produce. Now let’s build up a good reputation for ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our farm workers.”
Lawrence Murray has offered the following safety advice to agricultural workers during this year’s harvest:
• Chemical spraying - spraying of the haulm will begin shortly across the country. In order to avoid acid itch remember to inform occupants of the local area in cluding schools and residents.
• Misuse of machinery - regardless of experience, remember to cut out the engine of the harvester before opening the guards and ensure that guard rails are in place to prevent pickers from falling.
• Don’t jump on or off the harvester when its moving.
• Don’t leave the driving position of a moving or running tractor.
• Overhead power lines - do not park or carry out maintenance when under or near overhead power lines.
• Children on farms - do not allow children on or near the harvester.
• Grading machine - again ensure guards are always in place, covering dangerous parts of machinery, e.g. chain and sprockets, vee belts and pulley drives.
• Dust extraction should be used to minimize the dust. Don’t sweep dust, vacuum clean work rooms.
• Working at height – when the harvest is complete and packed into boxes, always ensure adequate and safe access in case you need to reach the potatoes, for example to take a sample or measure the temperature for quality control pur poses
Reforms to Save £300 Million
According to the Goverment small business could save up to £300m a year with better advice and support on health and safety. A report published today by the Better Regulation Executive examines how health and safety regulation affects low risk and small businesses. It sets out recommendations to save these firms time and money, while improving working environments and general understanding of health and safety. The report’s recommendations include:
improved web-based and telephone support, offering advice as well as information, for low risk businesses;
better advice to help small businesses know when to buy-in the help of consultants for health and safety advice;
maximising the resources of HSE and local authority inspectors, making inspection and en forcement more efficient, focusing on higher risk work places meaning fewer inspections for low risk businesses;
developing a new, single assurance scheme so small businesses can have just one inspection to deal with a range of requirements, including health and safety, fire, food safety regulations; and,
improving the perception and understanding of health and safety issues.
The average company spends around 20 hours a year, or more than £350, on administration meeting health and safety requirements. Cutting the time spent by just five hours per company would save low risk businesses £150 million a year.
Secretary of State for Business, John Hutton, said:
“The UK has one of the best workplace safety records in the world, with fatalities and injuries falling by more than 70 per cent over the last three decades. But the public and business community’s perception of health and safety regulation is poor. Introducing simple steps, such as making information more easily available and getting better advice to firms that need it, will help save time and money for UK business. Cutting the amount of paperwork for low risk businesses, and making complex regulations easier to understand, will also help create safer environments for workers and the public. Inaccurate reports of the impact of health and safety on businesses and the public can be highly damaging. Putting the record straight on good, common sense regulation that saves lives will help cut the unnecessary costs that exaggerated fears can cause.”
Low risk businesses could save up to £140 million a year if 20 per cent turned to the HSE or other government sources for basic support on health and safety.
The estimated 1500 health and safety specialist consultancy firms in the UK, with annual sales of around £1 billion, provide important services and support, increasingly to small businesses. But the report found some firms are paying for support they could do more cheaply in house or going beyond what is required by the law, with little or no benefit in the workplace.
Costly Regulations
Proposals to limit the cost of new regulation have been unveiled as the Government invited views on a system of regulatory budgets for government departments - which would be a world first. The proposals are designed to improve the thinking of Government, along with business and the third sector, in planning and implementing regulation more efficiently.
They include:
creating a rolling limit on the costs of new regulation that could be introduced for each government department
setting initial budgets to be introduced in 2009
allowing departments to offset the cost of new regulation with savings made by reducing the existing regulatory burden and trading with other departments
Secretary of State for Business, John Hutton, said:
“Good regulation should drive competition and boost our productivity. But too many new rules can stifle enterprise and blunt our competitive edge. If the UK is to remain a respected place to do business, we must not expect business simply to absorb the costs of a stream of new Government initiatives. The introduction of a regulatory budget for every department will focus new regulations on the real priorities and act as a powerful incentive for departments to cut or streamline existing burdens. This innovative approach will build on efforts already in place to ut the burden to business by 25 per cent by 2010.”
Under today’s proposals, budgets would be set and agreed later this year, departments would be monitored through impact assessment reports that require them to explain and fully cost the impact of new regulation. Close monitoring, by the Better Regulation Executive, will help departments avoid going over budget, but Parliament will hold to account any that exceed their limit.
The consultation also seeks views on managing the costs of new climate change regulation outside a system of regulatory budgets, given the complexity and cross-departmental nature of the efforts, and on how independent regulators should be included in the system.
The commitment to consult on a system of regulatory budgets was announced as part of the Enterprise Strategy, launched alongside the Budget, earlier this year.
Ed - Alleluia - It’s only taken 10 years for Labour to work this lot out!
HSE's Myth of the Month
Even Mr Punch needs a written risk assessment
A Punch and Judy man received a standard letter from an event organiser asking him to submit a health and safety risk assessment. However when he questioned the need for it, they ‘backed-off’ and no paperwork was required. It sounds like wires got crossed somewhere and perhaps the standard letter was sent in error.
HSEs guidance is clear: if there is genuinely no significant risk, nothing needs to be written down.
If a written assessment is needed – keep it fit for purpose, and crucially: act on it. Paperwork without action does no one any good