CURRENT ISSUES & CHALLENGES Philip White 19 November 2015
Background • 40 th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act coming into force • Fatal incidents, injuries and ill health greatly reduced • World leader • But … Still some way to go in many areas
A world class system Fatalities: 651 to 99 employees* (1974 to 2014/15p). * excludes self-employed Reported Injuries: 337,000 to 77,000 (1974 to 2011/12). (since early 1990’s). Ill health cases: fallen by a third European benchmarks (2011) UK
How are we tackling it?
More straightforward: more compliance
Other developments - legislation • Self employed continue to be in scope of S.3(2) of HSWA where their activities pose a risk of harm to others • On-shore and offshore major hazards - COMAH 2015 & OIR 2015 • Mines - The Mines Regulations 2015 replaces all previous mine specific health and safety legislation (47 items) • Construction – CDM 2015
CDM 2015 • Definition of construction work • Appointment of the Principal Designer • Principal Designer – skills, knowledge & experience • CDM Adviser • Application to projects of less than 30 days • Client’s role • ACoP?
CDM 2015 • Much already familiar or in place – little new required • Construction work very varied – impossible to create perfect fit in all circumstances • Too many myths • Compliance expectations unchanged • Looking for sensible, practical & pragmatic application • Good opportunity to review arrangements
Other developments • Regulation of patient and service user safety in health and social care sectors • Review of the acquis of H&S Directives • Smith Commission • Sentencing guidelines • Deregulation
Deregulation • £10bn savings to be delivered over the Parliament • Red Tape Challenge 2 focused on sectors • Energy and power - supply • Chemicals and mineral - extraction • Environment – waste • Agriculture – Inspection • Care – local • Financial services
Strategy for Occupational H&S in Great Britain • BPOS published in 2009 • Many positive developments and successes • Good time for revisiting strategy
Strategy for Occupational H&S in Great Britain • Improving OSH management remains key: – Relationships and activities need to remain in place and continue – leadership; competence (skills and experience); worker involvement; avoiding catastrophe continue to play important roles
Strategy for Occupational H&S in Great Britain • Publication expected late 2015 • Focus attention on where the system needs to go next • Responsibility is owned and shared by all
Strategy for Occupational H&S in Great Britain • Proportionate risk management an essential enabler of business success – supporting growth and productivity. • Greater awareness of the harm, costs and preventability of work- related ill health
Being a regulator is not just inspection HSE 51: Regulation of Health and Safety at Work: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse51.pdf
Awareness raising/ partnership activity
Some Reflections • GB one of the safest and healthiest places to work • Resource/effort on h&s greater than ever before • The role of the regulator • Sensible & proportionate approaches • Private sector gold plating • The role of legal & h&s professions
The world of work, in which we work, is changing £ Changes in the Workplace is Government The Prime communications changing as spending is Minister wants landscape are are habits and decreasing. to see more accelerating expectations Regulators progress must adapt too Better targeted Less burdensome More effective
ANY QUESTIONS?
Recommend
More recommend
