Memorandum by the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE 25)
1. This memorandum responds to the invitation
from the Environment Sub-Committee, to give evidence to its inquiry
into the work of the Health and Safety Executive.
PART 1: BACKGROUND
TO HSC/E
What is HSC/E
2. The modern system of health and safety
at work in Great Britain dates from the Robens Committee report,
and the subsequent passing of the Health and Safety at Work etc.
Act 1974 (HSWA). Both the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and
the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are statutory Non-Departmental
Public Bodies set up under the HSWA. They are accountable to the
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
(the Secretary of State). The overall aim of both bodies is to
ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activity
(including members of the public affected by those activities)
are properly controlled.
3. The constitution of HSC and HSE is governed
by the HSWA. HSC has overall responsibility for policy on health
and safety at work and advice to Ministers including advice on
standards and regulations necessary to secure them. The Chairman
and members are appointed by the Secretary of State. The current
Commission consists of the Chairman and nine members. Members
are appointed after statutory consultation with representatives
of: employers (three members), employees (three members) and other
organisations concerned with health and safety including local
authorities (LAs) and public interest (up to three members). Currently
there is one Commissioner representing LAs and two representing
the public interest. The Commission published a Strategic Plan,
agreed with Ministers, and an annual report. These are placed
in the House of Commons library. Copies have also been sent to
the Committee.
4. The Executive is a separate statutory
body and consists of a Director General and two other members
appointed by the Commission after consultation with the Director
General and approval by the Secretary of State. The Executive
has power to appoint staff, subject to Ministerial consent as
to numbers and terms and conditions of employment (the staff are
civil servants). The Executive has a separate statutory responsibility
for making adequate arrangements for the enforcement of HSWA and
related legislation under guidance from HSC. The staff appointed
by the Executive comprise "HSE", and they provide support
to the Commission in the exercise of its policy and standard setting
functions, as well as to the Executive for its enforcement responsibilities.
HSE also has responsibility for a "Next Steps" Executive
Agency—the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL).
5. Under the Devolution settlement, legislative
responsibility for health and safety matters has been reserved
to the Westminster Parliament.
What do HSC/E do?
6. HSC's principal functions are:
— advising Ministers on health and
safety matters;
— defining standards and proposing
legislation on health and safety matters: the Commission has a
statutory duty to consult interested parties before proposing
any legislative changes;
— making arrangements for the provision
of information, advice and guidance;
— making arrangements for carrying
out research; and
— giving guidance to enforcement authorities
ie HSE and local authorities. The Commission is statutorily barred
from involvement in individual cases of enforcement.
7. HSE's role is to enforce HSWA, relevant
statutory provisions (Part 1 of HSWA, health and safety regulations
and existing statutory provisions) and related legislation (for
example, the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release)
Regulations 1992 and The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986),
and to undertake tasks delegated to it by HSC. Its main functions
are:
— advising and assisting HSC on policy
on health and safety, defining standards of health and safety
and proposing necessary changes to the law;
— inspecting work places to secure
compliance;
— investigating accidents, cases of
ill-health and complaint;
— taking formal enforcement action
(which can involve issuing statutory improvement or prohibition
notices or prosecuting duty holders where necessary);
— providing advice and information
to employers, workers and the public;
— licensing and approving standards
and arrangements in areas of significant hazard;
— commissioning and carrying out research
for HSC; and
— providing scientific and technological
expertise to underpin the Commission's and Executive's functions.
8. HSE enforces in over 650,000 establishments,
such as factories, farms, mines, nuclear and offshore installations
and transient activities, such as construction sites and fairgrounds.
LAs are responsible for enforcement in about 1.3 million mainly
lower-risk premises, such as offices, shops, restaurants, residential
care homes and entertainment activities, allocated to them by
regulation. HSC has given guidance to LAs on their conduct of
enforcement functions.
Strategic Plan
9. HSC's current Strategic Plan sets out
five Continuing Aims. These are:
— Aim 1: To modernise, simplify
and support the regulatory framework, including European Union
and other international work.
— Aim 2: To secure compliance
with the law in line with the principles of proportionality, consistency,
transparency and targeting on a risk-related basis.
— Aim 3: To improve the knowledge
and understanding of health and safety through the provision of
appropriate (and timely) information and advice.
— Aim 4: To promote risk assessment
and technological knowledge as the basis for setting standards
and guiding enforcement activities.
— Aim 5: To operate statutory
schemes, including regulatory services, through, for example,
the Employment Medical Advisory Service.
10. For the first time, this year the Plan
also identifies five strategic themes; that is, major issues to
be tackled over the long term which provide a focus for many of
HSE's outputs and which constitute a wider agenda to which all
those involved in the health and safety system can contribute.
Each theme is underpinned by a number of key programmes, which
have clear targets. The current themes are:
(i) To raise the profile of occupational
health: the aim is to make a significant impact on the extent
and severity of work-related ill-health and other related occupational
health issues. Key programmes are the development of a long-term
occupational health strategy; the Good Health is Good Business
campaign and preventing and managing musculoskeletal disorders.
(ii) To improve health and safety performance
in key risk areas: to work in partnership with external stakeholders
in important areas of industry/economic activity where there is
a high risk of injury, ill-health or fatality and to agreed targets
designed to reduce these risks. Key programmes concern asbestos,
construction, agriculture, gas safety and the millennium bug.
(iii) To develop health and safety aspects
of the competitiveness and social equality agendas: to contribute
to substainability by demonstrating the contribution which good
health and safety practice makes to improved business competitiveness,
reduced social exclusion and better social equality; by promoting
a better quality work environment with a more productive workforce;
and by looking at how issues such as designed-in safety can contribute
to the quality and thus the competitiveness of products. Key programmes
this year concern the management of health and safety in small
firms; the provision of adequate welfare facilities; access to
occupational health support.
(iv) To increase the engagement of others
and promote full participation in improving health and safety:
HSC/E already work closely with other government departments and
agencies, local authorities, employers and their organisations,
trade unions and a wide range of intermediaries. Key programmes
are to secure more effective employee participation in improving
health and safety; and to develop the partnership between HSE
and local authorities to maximise their collective contribution.
(v) To improve our openness and accountability:
openness is critical to HSC/E's effectiveness and reputation.
Key programmes are preparing for the Freedom of Information Act,
implementation of the Data Protection Act, adopting Service First
principles and engaging stakeholders in risk-based decision making.
Resources
11. The following table details HSC/E's
financial provision:
|
| | |
| £ thousand
|
| 1998-99 Supplementary Estimate
| 1999-2000 | 2000-01 (planned)
| 2001-02 (planned)
|
|
| Running Costs | 164,085
| 172,375 | 182,348
| 186,621 |
| Capital expenditure | 7,450
| 7,412 | 7,412
| 7,412 |
| Other current expenditure | 48,626
| 49,318 | 49,618
| 50,618 |
| Gross total | 220,161
| 229,105 | 239,378
| 244,651 |
Health and Safety Laboratory
(HSL) (net)
| 1,444 | 1,444
| 1,444 | 1,444
|
| Receipts | 39,377
| 48,194 | 57,756
| 58,820 |
| Net grant in aid | 182,228
| 182,355 | 183,066
| 187,275 |
|
Notes:
The figures include recoverable VAT on contracted-out running
costs services.
The Health and Safety Commission and Executive's gross running
costs limit 1999-2000 is £169,898 thousand (running costs
less recoverable VAT of £2,477 thousand).
A more detailed analysis is given in the Department of Environment,
Transport and the Regions' 1999 Annual Report.
12. Total staff (full time equivalent, and including
HSL) at 1 April 1999 was 3,880. The total number of inspectors
at 1 April 1999 was 1,497.
Outputs and performance
13. Information on HSC/E planned outputs is at Annex
1 in the HSC Strategic Plan 1999-2002. Attached to this memorandum
at Annex 1 is HSC/E's Output and Performance Analysis report for
1998-99. This will appear in the Annual Report to be published
on 25 October.
Current initiatives which may have an impact on the work of
HSC/E
14. In May 1999 the Deputy Prime Minister announced his
intention to take forward a strategic appraisal of health and
safety to mark the 25th anniversary of HSWA. He indicated that
it was not intended to revisit the basic structures of the Act,
but rather to inject new impetus and relaunch the health and safety
agenda. The aim is to reduce the rate of workplace accidents and
ill-health still further, crucially by working with all stakeholders
to demonstrate that a healthy, well-protected workforce is not
only right, but is good for business and good for society.
15. In July a public consultation document "Revitalising
Health and Safety" was launched jointly by DETR and the Health
and Safety Commission, seeking responses by 24 September. Over
600 responses have been received by DETR so far. An announcement
of the outcome of the appraisal will follow in due course.
16. HSC/E have also been closely involved in DETR's Transport
Safety Review. This Review could potentially lead to changes in
the arrangements for regulating transport safety and in the way
that transport accident investigation is carried out. Any such
changes could have significant implications for the scope of HSC/E's
work.
PART 2: MATTERS
ON WHICH
THE COMMITTEE
ASKED FOR
COMMENTS
What are the current figures and trends in fatal injuries?
17. The number of fatal injuries to all workers (employees
and self-employed combined) is expected to fall to 257 in 1998-99
compared with 274 in 1997-98. This number is one of the lowest
in the past 10 years. There is a statistically significant downward
trend in the fatal injury incidence rate over this period. In
1998-99, the rate is expected to remain at 1.0 per hundred thousand
workers compared with 1.2 five years ago and 1.8 in 1989-90.
18. The trend in the fatal injury rate for employees
over the last 10 years is downward and statistically significant.
In 1998-99, the rate is expected to fall to 0.8 per hundred thousand,
compared with 0.9 in 1997-98 and 1.7 in 1989-90. Fatal injury
rates for the self-employed have fluctuated each year since 1989-90
ranging between 1.5 and 3.3 per hundred thousand. In 1998-99 the
rate is expected to be 1.9 compared with 1.8 in 1997-98.
19. Since 1991-92, the rate of fatal injury in agriculture
has fluctuated with no significant trend. A similar situation
can be seen in manufacturing although the rates are much lower.
However, in construction and in the service sector there are statistically
significant downward trends from 1991-92. Figures for the last
five years are given in the table below.
FATAL INJURY RATES PER HUNDRED THOUSAND WORKERS BY INDUSTRY
1994-95 TO 1998-99ef
|
| Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing
| Extraction and utility supply
| Manufacturing | Construction
| Services | All industries
|
|
| 1994-95 | 8.5
| NA | 1.3
| 5.1 | 0.5
| 1.1 |
| 1995-96 | 8.0
| 7.7 | 1.0
| 5.0 | 0.4
| 1.0 |
| 1996-97 | 10.8
| 4.0 | 1.4
| 5.6 | 0.4
| 1.1 |
| 1997-98 | 7.5
| 8.0 | 1.4
| 4.6 | 0.4
| 1.0 |
| 1998-99ef | 9.4
| 4.6 | 1.7
| 3.8 | 0.3
| 1.0 |
|
| ef Estimated final figures
|
20. The total number of fatal injuries to members of
the public is expected to drop from 393 in 1997-98 to 368 in 1998-99.
Injuries reported to HSE's HM Railway Inspectorate (RI) from 1996-97
onwards (including those resulting from acts of trespass or suicide
on railways) were previously reportable under separate railway
legislation and not under RIDDOR. If these are excluded, the trend
in the number of fatal injuries over the past eight years is downward
and statistically significant.
Railway statistics
21. The trend in the number of fatal injuries over the
past eight years is downward and statistically significant and
there has also been a general, improving trend in railway safety.
Provisional figures for 1998-99, published in HSE's Railway Safety
Statistics Bulletin in August, show that there were no passengers
killed in a train accident, there was a 25 per cent reduction
in fatalities overall, excluding trespassers and suicides, and
train accidents fell overall by 7 per cent.
22. However, HSC/E is disappointed at some of the statistics,
such as increases in the number of significant train accidents,
trains passing red signals, broken rails and violence to staff.
23. Action is already in hand to address all of these
issues. Details of some examples can be found atparagraph 28 of
this memorandum.
What was HSE's response to and progress on the recommendations
set out in the Committee report on Railway Safety (HC30)
24. HSE's response to HC30 is attached at Annex 2. Progress
on the key recommendations and further initiatives is as follows:
Managing the activities of contractors: Recommendations 1 and
3
25. How Railtrack manages and monitors the work of its
contractors remain key priorities for RI. They are given a high
profile during inspection activities and in regular liaison meetings
with the industry.
26. HSE is very conscious of the challenges which many
industries face due to increasing contractorisation. In addition
to RI's ongoing work in monitoring the management of contractors
HSE is soon to begin an evaluation of the Railways (Safety Case)
Regulations 1994 which will consider, among other things, whether
the Regulations deal adequately with contractors on the railways.
Railtrack's Safety and Standards Directorate: Recommendation 2
27. HSC will shortly be considering an interim report
following a review by HSE of the role of Railtrack's Safety and
Standards Directorate. HSC is aiming to submit the interim HSE
report to Ministers in the Autumn.
Removal of Mark 1 rolling stock and installation of train protection
systems: Recommendations 5, 6 and 7
28. The Deputy Prime Minister recently signed new Railway
Safety Regulations requiring the removal of Mark 1 rolling stock
by 1 January 2003 and the installation of a train protection system
by 1 January 2004, as proposed by HSC. HSE has maintained close
contact throughout with the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority and
OPRAF in agreeing deadlines for the withdrawal of modified rolling
stock. As proposed in the earlier response to the Transport Sub-committee,
the new Regulations require a programme for the installation of
train protection to be agreed with HSE within six months. The
programme must be fully implemented and operational on 1 January
2004.
Trespass and Vandalism: Recommendation 8
29. Following on from the publication of the guide "Prevention
of Trespass and Vandalism on Railways" in December 1998,
work continues in the form of a conference to share good practice,
an industry sponsored publicity video and a "branding"
that will be used on subsequent initiatives to warn about the
dangers of trespass and vandalism.
Accident inquiries and publication of reports: Recommendation
10
30. HSC has reiterated its concerns over delays to accident
inquiries and to the publication of reports in its response to
DETR's Transport Safety Review. HSC looks forward to participating
further in the Review's work on this difficult issue.
What is the position with regard to white, and other types
of asbestos?
31. In September 1998, HSC consulted on banning white
(chrysotile) asbestos. At the same time, the Government was pressing
for a European-wide ban. Since then Regulations have been laid
which ban the importation of chrysotile into the UK, and its supply
and use in GB except for a few safety critical applications where
no safe substitutes for chrysotile exist. The Asbestos (Prohibitions)
(Amendment) Regulations take effect from 24 November this year,
five years ahead of the deadline set by the EU Directive which
prohibits the marketing and use of white asbestos.
32. But Britain is still a long way from being asbestos
free and asbestos which remains in place, generally in the fabric
of buildings, must be managed properly. Later this year HSC plans
to consult on introducing a duty into the Control of Asbestos
at Work Regulations 1987 to require those in control of workplace
premises to manage the risks from asbestos.
What influence does HSC/E have in Europe to shape standards?
33. HSC/E play an active and constructuve role in Europe,
in particular to influence legislative requirements agreed by
the Council of Minsters on the basis of proposals from the European
Commission (EC). This is achieved by a high level of informal
and formal involvement with the EC and the health and safety authorities
in other Member States, to explain the UK position and influence
the shape of proposals. Recent examples of HSE's involvement include:
— aiding the negotiation of specific worker protection
dossiers on explosive atmospheres, physical agents and working
at heights/scaffolding;
— negotiations related to the proposed ban on white
asbestos;
— contributing to the EC chemicals review; and
— maintaining contact on the developing EC study
of rail safety.
34. HSE plays a full part on the Advisory Committee on
Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work, the EC's Senior
Labour Inspectors' Committee and the Bilbao-based European Agency
for Safety and Health at Work.
35. HSC/E are also active in influencing the development
of European legislation on product safety (often called "New
Approach" Directives) and supporting technical standards,
including working closely with the Department of Trade and Industry
(which leads on these Directives for the UK as they are primarily
aimed at creating a single market for products in the European
Economic Area). Good product standards for machinery and pressure
equipment are vital to achieving acceptable standards for the
safety of users.
36. These Directives are underpinned by technical standards
developed by the European standards bodies (CEN and CENELEC).
More detailed "technical" documents produced by national,
European and international standards bodies are useful guidance
for designers, suppliers and manufacturers of work equipment.
37. Over the last 10-15 years most standardisation work
has moved from being a national to being a predominantly European
and international activity. This trend has been fostered by the
role that standards play in support of Single Market Directives.
HSE makes a major contribution to this work, devoting about 30
person years to standards development in relation to equipment
important to health and safety by technical input to the committees
and working parties at European and international levels.
What role does HSE have in Environmental affairs?
38. HSC/E do not have direct policy responsibility for
environmental protection, though they are of course involved with
environmental health—ie protection of the public directly
affected by work activities. HSE is also involved in environmental
protection in two main ways. First, the Executive will identify
in Regulatory Impact Assessments any major environmental issues
arising from new legislative proposals. Second, in certain areas
HSE, by agreement, enforces law that has environmental implications.
This may lead to wider involvement, for example, by publishing
guidance relating to environmental matters.
39. Major areas where HSE has an involvement in environmental
issues include chemicals, pesticides and nuclear safety. Further
information on action in these areas can be provided if the Committee
would like.
40. There is some legislation which HSE enforces jointly
with Environment Agency (EA) and the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency (SEPA). An example is the Control of Major Accident Hazards
Regulations (COMAH), as Joint Competent Authority. There is good
co-operation and consultation between HSE, EA and SEPA. Detailed
systems and procedures have been developed to ensure planned inspection
programmes are co-ordinated and targeted.
41. Strong working relationships also exist between HSE
and EA on areas of mutual interest such as relevant national laws,
negotiation of underlying EC Directives and activities to progress
global environmental commitments arising from the Rio Earth Summit
in 1992 (Agenda 21). In addition, EA is involved with DETR and
HSE in the joint Competent Authorities for the Notification of
New Substances Regulations (NONS) and the Existing Substances
Regulations (ESR).
42. The day-to-day working relationship between HSE and
EA is established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
which recognises the environmental interfaces. It clearly describes
the overarching framework for liaison, sets the boundaries and
ensures effective co-ordination and co-operation. It is subject
to yearly review. There is also a MOU between HSE and SEPA. There
are more detailed supplementary MOUs on COMAH, radioactive substances
and nuclear licensed sites.
43. HSE and EA also hold regular bilateral meetings at
senior level to discuss overlapping policy issues and any areas
where there are policy disagreements.
How does the insurance industry impact on health and safety?
44. There are two main ways the insurance industry can
impact on health and safety in work standards:
— by providing financial incentives to improve health
and safety standards;
— by providing compensation for employees who suffer
injury or harm through work.
45. HSE seeks to encourage the industry to penalise bad
performance and reward good performance through premiums and insurance
conditions. Many insurance companies have arrangements to help
customers improve their overall risk management and their health
and safety management. The challenge for the industry is to get
more small and medium-size firms to take advantage of these services,
as there is less scope for offering premium reductions to this
group. Other ways in which insurers can work with their customers
to reward good health and safety management include:
— helping firms to develop tools to measure performance;
— channelling information on risks to those taking
out insurance and sharing health and safety performance information;
— contributing ideas about training and standards
of competence as well as standards of machinery and equipment.
More generally, civil claims for damages and compensation,
normally dealt with through the insurance industry, can influence
employers' attitudes to risk and prevention eg on passive smoking,
stress, RSI.
Is the balance of HSE's work right?
Balancing regulatory impact and proportionality of response
46. HSC/E need to balance a number of objectives:
— the expectations of Ministers and the public that
risks will be properly controlled, and work-related accidents
and ill-health prevented;
— expectations that appropriate action will be taken
when prevention fails—against those who put lives at risk;
— expectations that business will not be hampered
by unnecessary burdens, inconsistent standards or disproportionate
requirements for action.
47. HSE employs a variety of methods to achieve these
objectives, including:
— carrying out Regulatory Impact Assessments for
all proposals for new health and safety law;
— simplifying and clarifying health and safety law
and guidance, including providing simple, practical guidance for
small firms on key areas of risk;
— ensuring the enforcement regime is consistent,
proportionate, transparent and targeted;
— cutting red tape by removing unnecessary forms
and paperwork requirements;
— increasing regulatory contacts with business (this
includes all categories of operational contacts—over 75
per cent of inspectors' time is spent in direct contact with business
and related activities).
48. In 1994 HSC completed a comprehensive Review of Regulation,
requested by Ministers at the then Employment Department, to remove
any unnecessary burdens on business as part of the Government's
wider Deregulation Initiative. The recommendations were fully
implemented by 1998 and have involved a series of actions and
initiatives to improve the way the health and safety system is
regulated.
49. "The Better Regulation Task Force Report
on Enforcement", published in April 1999, reviewed and
made recommendations on good enforcement practice. A number of
its recommendations drew on HSE experience and good practice.
It recognised HSC/E's achievements in regulating health and safety
at work effectively, including the well developed mechanism for
liaison between HSE and LAs. It also included a good practice
checklist for regulators, with which HSC/E's regulatory practice
already complied.
Proactive versus preventative action and response to complaints
50. HSE intervenes at the workplace and with duty holders
in a number of ways: proactive inspections; reactive investigations
of accidents and complaints; advisory work; educational and promotional
visits; and enforcement through issuing notices or initiating
and taking prosecutions. HSE's biggest programme, forming about
half of all regulatory contacts a year, is proactive inspection.
Its purpose is to identify deficiencies and have them put right
before accidents occur.
51. Accident investigations form about a quarter of all
regulatory contacts. All fatalities are investigated, but overall
less than 6 per cent of major accidents reported are investigated.
There is some public expectation that HSE should investigate more
accidents, because accidents which are not investigated may result
in potential offenders escaping punishment. At present HSE plans
to increase the number of investigations from 1999-2000 to 2001-02
by about 3 per cent. But any major increase beyond that would
seriously reduce the number of preventive inspections and detract
from the primary objective of ensuring that risks are properly
controlled and that incidents do not occur. HSE believes that
a balanced programme, comprising all the elements described in
para 50, is needed to secure improvements in health and safety
on a continuing basis. The balance of inspection and investigation
work has to be kept under continuing review.
52. Complaints about working conditions reported to HSE
have increased by 40 per cent since 1995. All are assessed for
investigation against criteria such as potential of the circumstances
to cause harm and the nature of the risk. Typically HSE investigates
some 80 per cent of complaints received. This is planned to rise
with the introduction of new administrative systems to handle
complaints more efficiently and effectively. HSE has procedures
for contacting complainants, to let them know the outcome of investigations,
and for dealing with complaints about HSE's actions. HSE undertakes
regular customer satisfaction surveys to identify its level of
performance and the ways in which the service can be improved.
53. The elements of LA work programmes are similar to
HSE's. Preventive inspections account for 66 per cent of their
regulatory contacts a year and they investigate about half of
the accidents reported to them, and over 90 per cent of complaints
received. The number of complaints to LAs increased by about 34
per cent between 1995 and 1998.
54. Over 20 per cent more improvement and prohibition
notices have been issued this year compared to last. We do not
set targets for issuing notices, but we expect the upward trend
to continue.
55. HSC has long been concerned that the general level
of penalties imposed by the Courts does not match the real seriousness
of health and safety offences, which can and do sometimes lead
to terrible injury, ill-health and death. Ministers and the HSC
have welcomed the important November 1998 judgement in R v F Howe
and Son (Engineers) Ltd in which the Appeal Court said straightforwardly
that health and safety fines are too low. The decision of the
Court of Appeal has resulted in a greater number of cases being
committed to the Crown Court for sentence—13 in the first
three months of 1999. The case provided the first clarification
of the correct approach to sentencing for health and safety offences
and a basis for inspectors drawing sentencing matters to the Court's
attention. However, HSC continues to be concerned that the level
of penalties for breaches of health and safety at work law is
too low and intends to continue work, with Ministers and other
authorities, to press this view.
HSE KEY OUTPUTS
|
| Key outputs and quality measures |
1998-99 Outturn | 1998-99 Plan
| 1997-98 Outturn |
|
| Regulatory contacts, including inspections and investigations, with employers and duty holders
| 183,292 | 170,000
| 186,065 |
| Incidents/complaints investigated | 32,270
| 29,000 | 33,585
|
| Per cent high hazard/risk workplaces receiving annual inspection contact (excludes CHID and RI who use an alternative systematic appraisal of hazards/risks)
| 96 | 100
| 100 |
| Per cent reported events (injuries/incidents) investigated
| 5.7 | 6.1
| 6.9 |
| Per cent complaints (about work activities) investigated
| 77 | 85
| 74 |
| Per cent prosecutions resulting in convictions
| 83P | +
| 79 |
| Number of enforcement notices issued | 10,844P
| 8,500 | 8,812
|
| Number of prosecutions | 1,797P
| 1,900 | 1,654
|
| Per cent inspector time spent on site/contact and related activities (as proportion of total time available)
| 78 | 80
| 79 |
|
What are the proposed arrangements to relocate the Health and
Safety Laboratory to Buxton?
56. The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) was established
as an in-house Agency of HSE on 1 April 1995. It provides wide-ranging
scientific research and technical support services to HSE. It
is required to operate commercially and it has to compete with
others in the public and private sectors for much of the work
it carries out for HSE. It also undertakes work for other public
and private organisations in the UK and overseas. Turnover is
around £21 million with about £2 million being non-HSE
work. Some 350 staff are employed and it operates from sites in
Buxton and Sheffield.
57. HSL has about twice as much accommodation as it needs.
Much of it is old and inefficient (both operationally and in terms
of energy consumption, maintenance etc). Further inefficiencies
stem from operating on two sites and the need for substantial
inter-site travel. To address these deficiencies, and in line
with Government policy, HSL is investigating the use of the Private
Finance Initiative (PFI) to provide a cost-effective solution
to HSL's accommodation and service provision needs for the future.
Two PFI bidders both proposed a full reprovision of all HSL's
accommodation needs onto the Buxton site. One of these has been
selected as Preferred Bidder and negotiations are underway to
develop a value for money deal for submission to ministers during
the year 2000. The value for money assessment includes a comparison
between the proposed PFI solution and a publicly financed solution.
Planning permission was recently granted by High Peak Borough
Council, subject to the development of a section 106 agreement
covering off-site access and Green Transport issues. High quality
alternative use of the vacated Sheffield site which is expected
to create good employment opportunities is also part of the proposals.
Environmental Impacts
58. Work activities: HSL already has an environmental
policy in place and is developing a full Environmental Management
System along the lines of that defined in ISO14000. Environmental
assessments are undertaken before new work activities are commenced.
A laboratory-wide Environmental Aspects and Impact Review is nearing
completion—modelled on proposals promulgated by DETR—and
this will form the baseline against which environmental improvements
can be targeted and assessed.
59. Building Design: the new building at Buxton
will be constructed to achieve a BREEAM rating of Very Good/Excellent
and will also meet, in full, the requirements of the local authority's
Environmental Health Officer. Specifically, this will mean that
the building will be to an energy-efficient design (minimising
the need for air conditioning, for example); air discharges from
the laboratories will meet the latest environmental standards;
the on-site effluent plant will be replaced by main drainage;
noise emissions will be tightly controlled, especially for out-of-hours.
60. Green Transport Issues: HSL has prepared a
Green Transport Plan as part of the planning application. This
identifies measures to encourage staff to avoid single-occupancy
car journeys (car sharing, improve public transport, cycling [already
a greater percentage of staff cycle to work at Buxton than the
national average] etc).
61. A staff relocation package is being negotiated with
HSL's Trade Unions which is specifically designed to encourage
Sheffield-based staff to move into or very close to Buxton, and
therefore to reduce as far as possible cross-Peak Park commuting.
The single site will eliminate up to 20 inter-site return journeys
per day.
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