Category Archives: Industry news

The Health and Safety Executive has published a report into asbestos management at a sample of 164 independent, voluntary-aided and foundation schools and academies. Of these, 110 were found to require “advice” whist 28 schools were served formal notices.

Typical failings included inadequate training, absence of an asbestos survey, no management plan, and no system to manage risks. HSE highlighted that confusion appears to exist in some schools over the roles and responsibilities of duty holders.

Michael Lees of the Asbestos in Schools campaign described the findings as “disgraceful and dangerous”.

Despite a rise in the number of fatal injuries in 2010/11, the overall number of accidents has seen a 6% decrease compared with 2009/10. Workplace fatalities rose from 147 to 171.

Predictably, the sectors with the highest injury rates are construction and agriculture where the levels are 173 and 111 injuries per 100,000 workers respectively. It is estimated that over 22 million working days were lost due to ill health and another 4.4 million because of injury.

A survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development shows that for the first time, stress is the most common reason for long-tem absence in both professional and manual workers, superseding musculoskeletal disorders and acute medical conditions.

Provisional figures for the number of workplace fatalities in Britain show that in the year to March 2011, 171 people were killed. This is an increase of 24 on the corresponding figure of 147 the previous year. The largest rise was in the construction sector, which saw an additional nine fatalities.

In addition to work related deaths, there were 68 members of the public who died in accidents connected to work activities, but that excluded railway related fatalities where suicide accounts for many of the incidents.

As part of their efforts to reduce costs, HSE have announced that the HSE Infoline is to be discontinued after 30 September. Statistics for 2010 show that there were 190,000 telephone calls made and nearly 50,000 enquiries via email. HSE intends that all future requests for information should be web-based and has determined that this will deliver better value for taxpayers.

As trailed in the last edition of PHSC’s newsletter, Lord Young of Graffham produced a report into health and safety regulation and practice, entitled Common Sense – Common Safety. His Lordship, who has since resigned from his role as Special Advisor, starts the report by explaining that “a compensation culture driven by litigation is at the heart of the problems…”

He goes on to recount examples of where some health and safety rules have been applied “in the most absurd manner”, and castigates some “often unqualified safety consultants” for failing to follow a “reasonably practicable” approach as required by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Some of the recommendations are:

• to simplify claims procedures
• restrict promotion of “no win – no fee” services
• reduce the burden on low risk workplaces
• introduce a register of safety consultants
• consolidate certain legislation
• require local authorities to properly justify any events they ban
• change accident reporting criteria to over seven day incapacity from over three day at present (but note that the current reporting regime remains in force unless and until changes are announced)

The proposed safety consultant register is welcomed by most of the profession and indeed professional bodies within the sector have been working towards self-regulation for some time. It is hoped that the register will be operational by early February 2011.

Conservative Minister Chris Grayling told Parliament that he is “considering HSE’s proposals for delivering a renewed and effective health and safety regulatory service”.

This followed announcement of a 35% reduction in HSE’s funding, and the recommendations made by Lord Young. Grayling indicated that the intention is to concentrate on higher risk businesses and to recover the costs arising from reviewing or advising on those activities. In addition, where there has been an intervention due to an employer’s failure, this may result in a financial penalty outside of the court system. For example, where some sort of enforcement action has taken place such as issue of a Prohibition Notice, a penalty charge may be levied.

Mr Grayling also explained that HSE will conduct a formal consultation on any proposals to amend the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). This will involve an impact assessment to consider the costs and benefits of any proposed change.

However, given Lord Young’s stated view on the matter it is now inevitable that RIDDOR will be amended to relax the reporting requirements.

Figures for the number of workers who were fatally injured in various sectors have been released by HSE. They show that between April 2009 and March 2010 there were 41 construction workers killed compared to an average of 66 workers in each of the previous five years. There was a 20% fall on 2008/09 when 52 workers died. The services sector fared slightly worse with 42 workers killed at work, though this compares well with the 72 in the previous five years, and is a reduction of nearly a third on 2008/09 when 62 workers died. Improvements were also recorded in the manufacturing sector where 24 workers were killed compared to an average of 38 in the past five years. This is a reduction of 27% on 2008/09 when 33 workers died.

Cotswold District Council and the police are investigating after a 15-year-old London girl died after being pulled unconscious from the water by a member of the public at a bathing lake at Cotswold Water Park.

Witnesses said there were insufficient staff available but Watermark, who look after the facility, said that four lifeguards were on site. They also pointed out that there are signs advising families to supervise their own children.

After the incident it came to light that the local parish council had previously raised concerns and written to the district council on what they saw as insufficient first aid cover and too few lifeguards. The parish council requested an investigation to allay concerns about public safety, but Cotswold District Council passed the letter to the HSE. This prompted councillor Esmond Jenkins to say “There’s a question mark now as to whether Cotswold District Council realised they had been responsible for the place or are indeed responsible for the place in health and safety terms”.

The Health and Safety Executive have published their Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/10. This can be accessed at www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/0910. Running to over 100 pages, the document gives information including a commentary on health and safety performance.

A retired draughtsman was killed after he fell from the stairs of a coach as it drew up outside his holiday hotel in Devon. Paramedics took James Hartill, aged 79, to Torbay Hospital in Torquay after the incident but he died of his injuries. Reports suggest that the man was standing on the rear stairs and lost his balance, striking his head on the stairwell, when the coach reversed into the car park of the Water’s Edge Hotel.