LTB 641/12 - HSE Business Plan 2012–15

[Geezer]

CWU.org
28 August 2012

LTB 641/12 - HSE Business Plan 2012–15

For instant updates: http//:www.cwu.org email: info@cwu.org
150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX Tel: 020 8971 7200 Fax: 020 8971 7300
General Secretary: Billy Hayes (http://www.billyhayes.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)






No. 641 /12
Ref EX5
Date: 28 August 2012


To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

HSE Business Plan 2012–15

A new 2012-2015 business plan has been published by the HSE, which provides some further indications of how the government reforms of the health and safety system will proceed.
The plan does restate HSE's commitment to the Strategy launched under the previous Labour Government "The Health and Safety of Great Britain - Be part of the solution" stating that this will continue to be the HSE roadmap to a less bureaucratic and more effective health and safety system adding that HSE will demonstrates how its aims and objectives will be turned into reality over the next three years.


The plan however emphasises the very significant events and reviews which will have far-reaching consequences for those actively involved in health and safety at work, including HSE, most notably the Government’s "Good Health and Safety, Good for Everyone" report and the recommendations contained in the "Common Sense, Common Safety"; report along with the government commissioned "Löfstedt review of health and safety legislation" and the government's "Red Tape Challenge" which should reach its final stage for health and safety in the near future.


In their introduction to the plan Judith Hackitt HSE Chair and Geoffrey Podger HSE CEO state that those who are part of the health and safety system must focus on the real risks and play their part to prevent death and serious harm in the workplace, making it easier for everyone to understand what is really required. Those who create risks must take responsibility for the risks they create, focussing on the things that make a difference. They conclude that taking the financial challenges HSE faces into account, the plan provides an outline of the ambitious, important and challenging activities and actions HSE will take forward to deliver the Government’s reform Health and Safety agenda and HSE's part to improve the health and safety performance of Great Britain.


The plan states that HSE will secure compliance with the law by Investigating complaints and incidents which is an important lever for improving health and safety standards. It enables HSE to determine causes, share lessons and ensure that necessary measures are in place to prevent recurrence. Investigation also provides the basis for enforcement action to secure justice for people seriously harmed by those who behave in a reckless way or where there has been a serious breach of duty.

According to the plan, by 2015 the HSE expects to have:

Drawn the distinction between real health and safety and bureaucracy;
Made it easier for people to understand and do what is required;
Targeted a greater proportion of effort in high risk areas or where they can have greatest impact; and
Continued to hold to account those who expose their employees and others to unnecessary risk.

HSE aims:

A. Lead others to improve health and safety in the workplace
B. Provide an effective regulatory framework
C. Secure compliance with the law
D. Reduce the likelihood of low frequency, high-impact catastrophic incidents

HSE key objectives: (The prevention of death, injury and ill health to those at work and those affected by work activities)

A.1 Use evidence and knowledge to prioritise our own actions and guide the actions of others
A.2 Target and conduct inspections of sectors and activities which give rise to the most serious risks
A.3 Provide guidance and support to enable informed workplace health and safety decisions
A.4 Work in partnership to raise awareness and create behavioural change
A.5 Demonstrate the benefits of proportionate health and safety
B.1 Simplify and consolidate domestic health and safety regulations to make the law easier to understand
B.2 Negotiate and secure the best possible outcome in Europe for British industry
B.3 Act as Competent Authority for biocides, pesticides, detergents and industrial chemicals
C.1 Investigate work related accidents, incidents and ill health
C.2 Take formal enforcement action to prevent harm and secure justice where appropriate
D.1 Regulate major hazard operators and duty holders effectively and proportionately
D.2 Provide authoritative advice in relation to hazardous substances and land use planning

The general aims stick to the established health and safety simplification agenda, but also seek to reassure people that there will be balanced with robust enforcement.
As well as setting out these broad aims, the business plan provides details on timescales for plans that have previously been announced:

The report confirms that the HSE will press ahead with plans to exempt from health and safety laws, any self-employed people whose activities present no potential risk of harm to others. They intend to complete a public consultation on the self employed exemption (CD242 - 2 August 2012 - 28 October 2012), with a view to amending the Health and Safety at Work Act along with any necessary Regulations by December 2013.

Concerning the ongoing review of HSE’s ACoPs, upon completion of the current consultation process (CD241 - 25 June 2012 - 14 September 2012), they intend to consult again on revised editions by May 2013, with a view to publication by November 2013.

Another consultation on reforming the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) and associated guidance will be completed before the end of the year (CD243 - 2 August 2012 - 28 October 2012). Revised documents are penciled in for publication by October 2013.

Other developments will see the HSE transpose the 2010 Directive on Implementing the Agreement on Sharps Injuries in the Hospital and Healthcare sector by May 2013. The proposals to introduce new regulations to protect healthcare workers against the risk of injury from sharp medical instruments. The regulations are provisionally titled The Health & Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013. (CD244 - 8th August 2012 - 8th November 2012).

Three other consultations have been concluded on HSE plans; CD232 - Proposals to replace the existing Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001 with a new 2013 Application Outside Great Britain Order, [6]CD239 - Proposals to remove fourteen legislative measures and CD238 - Proposals to revoke seven Statutory Instruments.


Significantly, a report on the prediction of mesothelioma risks associated with current asbestos exposures is to be commissioned and is due to be published by June 2014. Staying with asbestos, the HSE intends to issue licenses and undertake 1500 inspections per annum to asbestos licensed contractors and removal operators to provide assurance of the competence of those participating in those activities.

In what will be a very busy period for the HSE, the business plan states the aim of completing fatal incident investigations within 12 months of HSE assuming primacy. To help ensure a more consistent approach to inspection and enforcement generally, the HSE will be developing a binding and enforceable code of practice for local authorities which will be consulted on in September 2012, and launched in April 2013.



Yours Sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer


More info +
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here.