![PP Construction Safety logo and link to home page [1]](http://www.ppconstructionsafety.com/wp-content/themes/ppcs960/images/ppcslogo.jpg)
LINK BETWEEN HSE ACTION AND SAFETY OUTCOMES UNPROVEN
Researchers pour cold water on ever ‘proving’ that H&S regulation works
HSE commissioned research to investigate the feasibility of improving HSE evidence of how its range of ongoing activities contribute to reducing death, injury and cases of ill health caused by work. The objectives of HSE were:
- to established whether it is feasible, using existing data sources, to demonstrate links between current HSE activities and changes in health and safety outcomes; and
- if not currently feasible why this is the case so as to enable discussions with partner organisations on the assessment of HSE impact.
The focus of the study was on the activities of HSE as a whole and the link with final H&S outcomes (e.g. the frequency and scale of work-related fatalities, injuries and ill-health).
Not feasible to demonstrate links between HSE activities changes in outcomes
It was accepted by HSE that the assessment of the holistic impact of its activities on outcomes might involve building an aggregate picture from the ‘bottom-up’.
The interest was primarily in quantitative assessments of the effect of HSE activities on these outcomes although it acknowledged that qualitative analysis might have a role to play. The researchers concluded:
“It is not feasible, given current evidence and data sources, to demonstrate links between HSE activities as a whole and changes in H&S final outcomes. This is because of the complexity of model specification, empirical and methodological problems and the available data sources not being fit for those purposes.
This conclusion is not unique to HSE – regulatory authorities and researchers in other countries experience the same problems. It is also not because HSE has neglected to carry out evaluations of its specific initiatives and activities – but rather that they have not been carried out using consistent methods, metrics and reporting arrangements.
Moreover, the evidence from the literature suggests very strongly that there is no guarantee, given the modelling and data problems, that HSE could – in one discrete exercise -estimate the link between its activities as a whole and H&S final outcomes – especially health outcomes.
Latest Construction Health and Safety News
CONTRACTS MANAGER HANDED TWO YEAR PRISON TERM
Safety fall arrest netting would have saved life of deceased workman
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 15th January 2020WORKER FATALLY INJURED BY CONCRETE BEAM
Lifting operation not properly planned, managed and supervised
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 15th January 2020TREE FELLING OPERATIONS LACKED DEFINED COMMS
Workman struck by falling tree inside “normal” exclusion zone
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th January 2020CONTRACTOR ARRESTED OVER WELFARE FAILINGS
Recalcitrant sole trader failed to attend court hearing
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th January 2020MAJOR DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR FINED £500,000
Collapse of concrete slab caused death of worker and excavator fall
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th January 2020FALL FROM LADDER WHILST CARRYING BUCKET
Contractor failed to provide basic safe lifting aids
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th January 2020FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH HSE NOTICE PROVES COSTLY
Director given suspended jail term and company fined £60,000
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th January 2020DEVELOPER FAILED TO PLAN AND CHECK COMPETENCE
Fall caused by ad-hoc working methods and lack of monitoring
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th January 2020CYLINDER LEAK TEST CAUSED FATAL INJURIES
Corrosion inhibitor triggered failure and shrapnel ejection
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 14th January 2020FESTIVE GREETINGS TO ALL OUR READERS
Read the rest of this article »
JAIL TERM FOLLOWS ROUTINE HSE SPOT CHECK
Director of a roofing firm handed a suspended prison sentence
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 19th December 2019TEENAGER FELL 3M DURING BLOCK AND BEAM WORK
Workers uninstructed and left to devise own safe system of work
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 19th December 2019PARCEL CARRIER FINED HEAVILY OVER FLT INCIDENT
Reversing fork lift lacked segregation from pedestrians
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th December 2019CONTRACTOR FINED OVER FLOOR OPENING FALL
Thorough risk assessment and edge protection were both inadequate
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 18th December 2019THREE WORKERS “CARRIED ALONG” IN SEWER INCIDENT
Mentally affected and one man treated for long-term traumatic stress
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 11th December 2019SOLAR FIRM AND DIRECTOR SENTENCED OVER DEATH
Brother of business owner died in fall during panel installation
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 10th December 2019DIRECTOR AND COMPANY FINED FOR ASBESTOS RISK
HSE refurbishment campaign inspection revealed asbestos offences
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 10th December 2019BULK BAG COLLAPSE CAUSED BY UNSAFE STACKING
Bulk bag collapsed onto workman when struck by fork lift
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th December 2019INTERLOCKED GUARD NOT WORKING TO ISOLATE POWER
Two workmen seriously injured when plant started unexpectedly
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th December 2019STREET FURNITURE RISK TO PUBLIC FINED £1.4M
Council prosecuted following injury to child playing on hinged bollard
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 9th December 2019WORKMEN SUFFER SERIOUS BURNS FROM CABLE STRIKE
Assessment and system of work failed to appreciate electrical risk
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 29th November 2019LADDERS WERE INAPPROPRIATE FOR WORK ON ROOF
Workman paralysed after falling whilst installing roof ladder
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 28th November 2019FIRM FAILED TO MANAGE EXHAUST VENTILATION
HSE enforcement notices on wood dust and welding fume ignored
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 27th November 2019RECALCITRANT DIRECTOR BARRED FROM OFFICE
Dangerous telehandler used despite earlier fatality and enforcement
Read the rest of this article »
Posted on 25th November 2019DIRECTOR HID UNSAFE WORKING PRACTICES FROM HSE
Workers exposed to sprayed paints containing asthma causing isocyantes
Posted on 25th November 2019
