CONSTRUCTION AND THE NEW HSE STRATEGY

HSE challenges construction industry to ‘Be part of the solution’

The new HSE strategy was published today (3 June 2009) as a survey revealed that 25% of businesses report pressure to cut spending on health and safety. The strategy was launched by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell and the HSE Chair, Judith Hackitt.

Ms Hackitt said: “HSE is not, and never will be, ‘the fun police’. Our new strategy shows the way towards a common sense attitude to health and safety. As regulators, our approach to businesses will be proportionate to the risk they present and their approach to managing it.”

Stakeholders are being asked to sign an online pledge including agreeing to play their part in reducing the number of work related deaths.

Comment: Our assessment of the likely implications for those involved with construction projects is as follows:

Investigation: expect a continuing and robust regime of inspection and investigation. The strategy makes it clear that enforcement action will be taken where appropriate;
Leadership: inspectors will be looking for evidence of clear and strong leadership from construction boardrooms and managers;
Competence: all dutyholders must have access to competent H&S assistance. In addition, HSE indicate that they wish to see greater emphasis on ‘coaching’ to raise the competence of directors, managers and workers to determine what is sensible and reasonable;
Workforce: involvement of workers in genuine partnerships with management to help solved problems jointly is expected. Compliance with CDM 2007 Regulation 24 duty on workforce involvement may come under greater scrutiny;
Risk Profiling: HSE is looking for dutyholders to set priorities based on ‘risk profiling’ (identifying groups most at risk/scale of injury or ill health) and subsequent targeting of resources more accurately. Where issues prove resistent to change the stratgey seeks to encourage innovative ways of tackling such problems;
Small Businesses and Sites: new ways will be adopted by HSE to help construction SME’s and smaller projects to understand how to secure health and safety in ways proportionate to the risk. There will be much greater free access to HSE published guidance.

The findings of the Government Inquiry into Construction Fatalities are due to be published later in June 2009. The recommendations are likely to drive forward the construction health and safety agenda over the next 2 years. It is expected that the inquiry may also provide a boost to the priority given to managing ill-health risks.

This article was posted on 3rd June 2009 in ALL LATEST NEWS, REGULATION.
PP Construction Safety H&S Assistance and Consultancy service.

Construction Health & Safety News, Advice and Information from PP Construction Safety

CONSTRUCTION AND THE NEW HSE STRATEGY

HSE challenges construction industry to ‘Be part of the solution’

Latest Construction Health and Safety News

HSE ENFORCEMENT DATABASE LATEST UPDATE

View current online register of HSE prosecutions and enforcement notices

FALL PRECAUTIONS FELL BETWEEN TWO FIRMS

Contractors fined after workers at risk of falling from roof

SOLAR PANEL FIRM AWARE OF FRAGILE ROOF RISK

Workman suffered long-term injuries in 4m fall through rooflight

HSE PROSECUTE FIRM OVER RISK NOT HARM

Multiple safety failings land construction company in court

CLIENT AND CONTRACTOR FACED COURT TOGETHER

Firms breached joint duty to plan and carry our work at height safely

£1M FINE OVER DEATH CAUSED BY EXCAVATOR

Vehicle driver found guilty at trial alongside CDM Principal Contractor

CHILD DIED WHILST PLAYING ON POWERED GATE

Lack of end stop caused gate to fall on 6 year old boy

HSE SPEAK AT ACCESS INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2019

AIF National Working at Height Conference November 2019

UK CLIENT FINED OVER UNSAFE OVERSEAS FIRM

Italian contractor found guilty despite failure to attend court

COMPLETE FAILURE TO RECOGNISE HAVS RISK

Specialist drilling company and director sentenced over HAVS danger

PC AND TWO OTHERS FAILED TO ASSESS WIND EFFECT

Fall of director from roof caused by ‘Storm Doris’ gust

MAJOR FIRM FINED £400k OVER LIFTING OPERATION

Fitter loses four fingers as load slides and falls to the ground

NEW HOMES LEFT IN DANGEROUS CONDITION

Fined for unsafe gas work causing fires at housing development

FIRM FINED £1M OVER EXPLOSION DURING CLEANING

Tank cleaning operation caused burns as flammable vapours ignited

YOUNG BRICKLAYER FELL THROUGH OPEN STAIRWAY

Firm fined over failure to install fall protection around opening

STRUCTURAL SAFETY BODY LATEST NEWSLETTER

CROSS publishes reports and expert comment on a range of issues

FLAT ROOF FAILED UNDER WEIGHT OF WORKMAN

Confusion over fragility proves costly for worker and business

PROPERTY FIRM FINED OVER FATAL FALL FROM TREE

Untrained workers using chain saw engaged to fell large sycamore

LANDLORD PUT PUBLIC AT RISK FROM ASBESTOS

Powered jet washing of asbestos cement sheets caused spread

WORKMAN FELL FROM SUSPENDED ACCESS EQUIPMENT

Health Board and maintenance firm director prosecuted

CONSIDERING TEMP WORKS IN PERMANENT DESIGN

Useful overview for civil and structural engineers on contemporary practice

FIRM FAILED TO COMPLY WITH SITE WELFARE NOTICE

Basic welfare requirements found wanting for second time

PRISON TERM OVER POORLY GUARDED CIRCULAR SAW

Workman lost three fingers using machine without guard and riving knife

COMPANY IGNORED HSE ON SILICA DUST ACTION

Worktop manufacturer failed to control dust and manage ventilation

ASBESTOS REMOVED WITHOUT SURVEY OR CONTROLS

Client fined over failure to commission refurb and demo survey

News Archives