The HSE’s business plan for 2020/21
Five themes
The HSE arranges its work around five topic areas. These are titled: (1)Lead and engage with others to improve workplace health and safety ; (2) Provide an effective regulatory framework ; (3)Secure effective management and control of risk ; (4)Reduce the likelihood of low frequency, high-impact catastrophic incidents ; and (5)Enable improvement through efficient and effective delivery . Within the topics there are different objectives including research, developing relationships with industry bodies, campaigns and promotions and enforcement targets.
New responsibilities
The HSE says it’s proud to have been asked to form a new body which will be named the “Building Safety Regulator” (BSR) and that this will be a major project in the coming year. The BSR is being formed in response to the investigation into the factors behind the Grenfell Tower fire disaster. Its role will be to oversee the design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings.
This should mean that in future the construction of high-rise residential buildings will be much more tightly controlled so that mistakes such as the fiasco with flammable cladding are not repeated. It will go further by ensuring that there is ongoing oversight of the management of tower blocks.
European impact
The HSE will also be kept busy with work to adapt to the transition period as Britain exits the EU. One area in particular where work is required is in developing a new chemicals safety regime as this is currently controlled across Europe in a single regulatory system.
Who’s getting a visit?
Inspections are undertaken either reactively in response to complaints, accidents or disease reports, or proactively based on specific target areas. The regulator is planning a programme of around 15,000 proactive inspections which will include 700 in the woodworking sector, 200 on control of flour dust and 1,100 on control of welding fumes. Other industries which are on the hit list are waste and recycling, agriculture, construction and fairgrounds including inflatables.
Note. When inspectors undertake planned visits they generally give notice, although they do not have to do so.
Tip. If you think that you’ll be inspected, prepare to demonstrate how you’ve controlled major accident risks such as work at height, transport and work with machinery. Also be ready for questions on health protection, especially where your staff are at risk from lung disease, asthma, dermatitis and musculo-skeletal injury.
Construction focus
Construction inspections will cover in particular small and medium-sized businesses undertaking refurbishment work and checks that principal designers appointed under the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 are fulfilling their duties.
In addition there will be one major health-focused initiative involving 1,000 inspections of construction sites. This will take place in quarter three. Following this, in quarter four, there will be a programme of around 900 inspections of individual licensed asbestos contractors to ensure compliance with their licence conditions.