The lives of children and adults are being put at risk as a result of the Government’s continual proclamations that a more ‘common-sense’ approach to health and safety be taken in schools.

This assertion formed part of a motion carried at the annual conference of the NASUWT – the largest teachers’ union – over the weekend.

The motion slammed the Government’s decision, based on Lord Young’s report in 2010, to redefine schools and colleges as ‘low-risk’ environments – noting that serious health and safety risks exist in schools and colleges, including exposure to work-related stressors, excessive working hours, bullying and harassment, asbestos and excessive temperatures. As a ‘low-risk’ workplace, schools and colleges are likely to encounter fewer health and safety inspections by regulators.

The motion also criticised the dilution of important guidance for schools on a range of matters, including the management of educational visits and pupil behaviour. In respect of the former, it deplored “the misleading claims made by some ministers that teachers have nothing to fear if a pupil dies, or is injured, as a result of participating in educational activity sanctioned by the school and where the teacher has exercised common sense”.

According to Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, the guidance on school trips – which was condensed last year from about 150 pages to a mere eight, as part of the Government’s drive to reduce paperwork and red tape – could not only make teachers more vulnerable to prosecution or civil litigation but actually have the opposite effect of dissuading teachers from undertaking excursions.

“This guidance provided schools and teachers with an important safeguard if things went wrong,” she explained. “The Coalition Government’s decision to sweep away this advice could make teachers more vulnerable.

“Parents will continue to expect schools to act in children’s best interests. Parents should be extremely worried that the Coalition Government’s cost-cutting measures could endanger their children and damage their education.”

Delegates at the conference also backed the union to continue to campaign for:

• legislation that protects the health and well-being of all teachers, support staff and pupils;
• the enforcement of statutory health and safety provisions;
• the publication of guidance on the management of health and safety risks; and
• the reversal of public-sector cuts and austerity programmes, which are, in the union’s view, putting the lives of pupils and teachers at risk.

To coincide with the motion, the NASUWT also released a new report into excessive classroom temperatures, in which it repeats its previous call for a legal maximum workplace temperature.

The survey found that:

• more than three-quarters of teachers experienced classroom temperatures in excess of 24OC on more than a quarter of days during the survey period (four weeks over last summer); and
• a third of teachers experienced classroom temperatures in excess of 30OC at some point during the survey period.

The Government has also consulted on simplifying regulations regarding school premises, such as washroom facilities and light fittings.

In its response to this consultation, NASUWT suggested that the Government’s philosophy of deregulation is jeopardising the “quality of the educational environment and the health, safety and welfare of children, young people and staff”.

Source: SHP
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The Chancellor has promised that 84 per cent of health and safety regulation will be scrapped or improved, according to this year’s Budget.

Last year, in its response to the Löfstedt review, the Government said it is committed to reduce health and safety regulation by more than half. The latest figure announced in the Budget takes into account last year’s Red Tape Challenge, which asked the public and business for their suggestions on which laws could be amended, or revoked entirely.

A Treasury spokesperson confirmed to SHP that “167 of the 199 health and safety regulations considered as part of the Red Tape Challenge” will either be withdrawn or improved, although she could not give a more detailed breakdown.

The HSE has also been tasked with putting forward to the European Commission ideas for micro-exemptions, or lighter-touch EU health and safety regulation for SMEs, based on ideas raised by the Red Tape Challenge.

To help businesses make sense of this huge legislative streamlining exercise, the Budget commits the HSE to redesign information on its website this year to distinguish between regulations that impose specific duties on businesses and those that define ‘administrative requirements’, or revoke or amend earlier versions of regulations. Exactly how the HSE intends to make this distinction is unclear at present.

Among the significant legislative changes that had previously been announced by the Government, the Budget highlights amending RIDDOR, by extending to seven days, from three, the period an employee needs to have taken off work before an injury or incident needs to be reported – a change that is due to come into force next month.
Also highlighted is an amendment to the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 to remove the requirement for the HSE to approve the training and qualifications of appointed first-aid personnel. This change was proposed in the Löfstedt review, but the Budget also reveals that revised guidance aimed at small businesses will be published in May, and the provisions will be repealed by October.

As indicated both in the Government’s response to the Löfstedt review, and in a speech David Cameron gave earlier this year, the Budget reaffirms that changes in strict liability will be brought in this year, so that health and safety law will no longer hold employers to be in breach of their duties in civil law where they have done everything that is reasonably practicable and foreseeable to protect their employees.

In addition to this measure, the Budget announces that the HSE will provide more help for businesses by this summer on what is ‘reasonably practicable’ in respect of specific activities, where evidence demonstrates that businesses need further advice to comply with the law in a proportionate way.

Commenting on the plans announced in the Budget, Chris Green, partner in the regulatory team at Weightmans law firm, suggested that many of the regulations the Government identifies for the scrapheap will be “in reality, archaic and rarely used”.

However, he described the proposal to abolish the doctrine of strict liability as a “revolutionary one”.

He said: “Removing strict liability will mean that the business will only have to be able to show they have done everything reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of its staff, in order to avoid prosecution. For insurers and their policy-holders, this should remove a potential unfairness in dealing with employers’ liability civil litigation and allow greater scope to defend such claims, provided strong safety regimes are evident.”

He nevertheless warned: “The insurance industry will need to make provision for the Budget requirements to provide SME customers with guidance how to comply with health and safety legislation and to commit to challenge vexatious litigants and the compensation culture; no small challenge, unless all stakeholders – including the judiciary, trade unions, and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers – agree to do likewise.”

IOSH urged the Government to be more transparent about how much real change there will actually be. The organisation’s head of policy and public affairs, Richard Jones, said: “Professor Löfstedt mentioned a 35-per-cent reduction; this immediately grew to “more than 50 per cent” in the Government response, and is now being heralded by the Treasury as 84 per cent.

“It’s unhelpful to present ‘improvements’ and ‘scrapping’ as interchangeable, or to imply either are reducing duties, or deregulating. The Government needs to say what proportion is improvement and what proportion is just removal of redundant regulations. There simply isn’t scope or need for radical change.”

IOSH urged the Government to be more transparent about how much real change there will actually be. The organisation’s head of policy and public affairs, Richard Jones, said: “Professor Löfstedt mentioned a 35-per-cent reduction; this immediately grew to “more than 50 per cent” in the Government response, and is now being heralded by the Treasury as 84 per cent.

“It’s unhelpful to present ‘improvements’ and ‘scrapping’ as interchangeable, or to imply either are reducing duties, or deregulating. The Government needs to say what proportion is improvement and what proportion is just removal of redundant regulations. There simply isn’t scope or need for radical change.”

Source: SHP

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HSE Passport, the company committed to helping agencies, umbrella companies, contractors and host companies achieve legal compliance to current Health & Safety legislation, now provides their health and safety passport scheme through UK broker: Professional Insurance Agents.

HSE Passport, the simple and cost effective health and safety compliance scheme (for contract and temporary workers) has teamed up with a leading UK insurance broker, Professional Insurance Agents to offer the passport scheme as an optional service when a contractor purchases professional indemnity insurance.

Professional Insurance Agents specialise in professional indemnity insurance and provide a number of business insurance products to SMEs, making it the perfect partner for HSE Passport.

Guy Schrecker, General Manager, HSE Passport said: “Compliance doesn’t need to difficult, time consuming or expensive, once HSE Passport is purchased, individuals can go through a simple and hassle free process to obtain their health and safety passport, enabling them to present a validated ID card on every project they are assigned to.”
He went on to say “We are thrilled about our new partnership with Professional Insurance Agents and look forward to helping SMEs and individuals to become compliant with current health and safety legislation, complimenting their legal compliance cover.”

HSE Passport can help businesses avoid accidents that can lead to heavy fines and could create cost savings by ensuring that staff have at least a basic level of health and safety training prior to arriving on site.

As an employer, organisations must take responsibility for basic health and safety training. HSE Passport can simplify the process which could show a significant saving in administrative costs.

Blog URL: www.hsepassport-blog.com

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Notes to Editors:

About HSE Passport

HSE Passport is a simple and cost effective solution to ensure that all contract and temporary workers are able to evidence a basic understanding of health and safety matters, as soon as they arrive on site. This ensures all parties can be confident that the liability for training has been captured.

Representatives from HSE Passport are available for media interviews and speaking opportunities.

For more information on HSE Passport contact: Nicky Frost, SMPR (Simply Marcomms Limited), 18 Generator Hall, Electric Wharf, Coventry, CV1 4JL, Tel: 0870 199 4044, Email: nicky@simplymarcomms.co.uk

If you would like to be added to the PR distribution list for future news or to arrange an interview, contact nicky@simplymarcomms.co.uk or call 0870 199 4044.

An intensive inspection initiative in Merseyside and Cheshire over the past five days has shown that one in five construction sites have failed safety checks.

Health and Safety Executive inspectors (HSE), visited a total of 167 sites in the two counties between the 20^th and 24^th of February. During these inspections, 32 sites were found to have working practices which could put workers at risk.

These intensive inspections were carried out as part of a month long drive across Great Britain, in order to try and improve health and safety in one of the country’s most dangerous industries.

HSE inspectors are targeting sites where refurbishment or repair work is being carried out, with the aim to reduce the risk of ill health, death and injury.

The main focuses are on high-risk activity, including working at height and ‘good order’, such as ensuring sites are clean, tidy and have clear access routes. Structural stability, public protection, fire safety and asbestos are also being inspected.

The HSE issued 29 Prohibition Notices during their visits to Merseyside and Cheshire, stopping work immediately.

15 Improvement notices have also been issued, requiring changes to be made to working practices. Half of the notices related to unsafe work being carried out at height.

Common causes of death and major injuries in the construction sector in Great Britain, are caused by falls from height. More than five incidents are recorded on a daily basis.

This initiative is in place to increase the awareness of those working in construction sites, they are also being reminded that poor standards are unacceptable and could result in enforcement action.

HSE Principal Inspector for Construction, Neil Jamieson said:

“The majority of the sites we visited were meeting acceptable standards but sadly one in five weren’t, putting the lives and health of workers at risk.”

“The fact that half of the enforcement notices we issued related to work at height shows that companies still aren’t doing enough to tackle one of the biggest causes of death and major injury in the sector.”

He went onto say:

“Implementing simple, inexpensive changes, or just a moment of extra thought, could prevent someone being killed or seriously injured. Employers should create an atmosphere where workers can raise concerns without fearing for their jobs.”

During 2010/11, two workers were killed while working in the construction industry in Merseyside and Cheshire, and there were 95 serious injuries.

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Government reforms of the UK’s system of health and safety are to be evaluated in a two-year study.

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has commissioned experts at The University of Nottingham to explore whether reducing regulation would help businesses to prosper, without harming the health and safety of their employees.

Health and safety and its implications at policy and practice levels have come under close scrutiny by the current Government.

A review of the health and safety culture by Lord Young, ‘Common Sense, Common Safety’ in 2010,  was followed by Professor Ragnar Lofstedt’s 2011 report which called for the simplification of some regulation and recommending a rethink around the concept of risk.

The study, part of IOSH’s research programme ‘Health and safety in a changing world’, will assess the Government’s response to the Lofstedt review and its effect on practice according to various stakeholder perspectives and will map how the landscape continues to evolve for businesses and occupational safety and health (OSH) practitioners.

Research programme director Professor Robert Dingwall said: “The project supports IOSH’s mission to champion a realistic approach to risk management, supporting employees and employers in minimizing the social and economic costs of death and injury at work.

“There is a serious concern that the flexibility created by a lighter touch from public agencies will actually be lost in an expansion of private rules from other interested parties like insurance companies.  This project will help to tell us what is happening on the ground.”

With extensive expertise in the translation of occupational health and safety knowledge and policy into effective practice, Dr Stavroula Leka, from the University’s Institute of Work, Health & Organisations, will lead the team alongside Dr Aditya Jain, from Nottingham University Business School.

The research will consider a wide breath of viewpoints across sectors and from academia, industry, government, trade unions and standards bodies. The research team will also utilise its international network to engage professionals with a European perspective, consider their experiences and make comparisons with the UK.

Dr Leka said: “Our goal is to achieve a more coherent understanding of the needs of today’s workplace and workforce. This research will make a valuable contribution to all parties who are concerned with the promotion of a safe and healthy work environment.”

Source: Workplace Law

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The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) is showcasing an introductory health, safety and environmental qualification for people working anywhere in the world in the process industries

The NEBOSH Health, Safety and Environment for the Process Industries qualification has been developed for people who work in the chemical process industries. People who are process operators, technicians and line supervisors.

NEBOSH chief executive Teresa Budworth said: “Safety, health and environmental know-how is a must-have for anyone working in these major hazard industries. Process operators, technicians and line supervisors must all be competent in these areas on order to ensure compliance.”

“International demand for our qualifications has grown rapidly in recent years,” said Teresa Budworth. “We’re now finding that employers across the world, particularly those from hazardous sectors such as the process industries, want their people to understand health, safety and environmental practices far better so that they can raise standards, demonstrate competence and win more business.”

The qualification covers general workplace safety, looking at issues such as risk assessment and control; fire, electrical and transport safety; manual handling and hazardous substances.

It also deals with process safety including common risks and controls; containment; plant integrity and emergency response, as well as environmental management such as as control of emissions and environmental risk assessments.

Source: Works Management

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HSE Passport, the company committed to helping agencies, umbrella companies, contractors and host companies achieve legal compliance to current Health & Safety legislation, is calling on recruitment agencies to review their approach towards health and safety training for temporary workers.

HSE Passport, the simple and cost effective health and safety compliance scheme (for contract and temporary workers) is advising recruitment agencies to get their temporary workers and freelancers ‘Health and Safety Compliant’, prior to releasing them into the workplace.

A simple health and safety passport for each temporary worker can prevent timely delays when arriving on site at a new project and also will present cost-saving benefits to both the client and agency.

Guy Schrecker, General Manager, HSE Passport said: “If an agency worker holds a recognised health and safety passport card , it presents many benefits: The agency can offer placements straightaway, the client does not have to hold health and safety induction sessions and the temporary worker can take the passport from project to project.”

He went on to say “If recruitment agencies make it mandatory for every one of their temporary workers to hold a health and safety passport, it will make life a lot easier for the end client, removing the need for timely induction sessions.”

HSE Passport ensures that freelancers and agency workers are health and safety compliant when they arrive on site, creating cost saving benefits and ensuring that all temporary assigned staff have a basic level of health and safety training for every project. The passport scheme can prevent delays in the commencement of an assignment or workplace project.

Agencies that use HSE Passport for their candidates will inevitably be preferred by host companies when they need workers because the assignment can start as soon as the worker arrives on-site. It also demonstrates that the agency understands the legal responsibly towards the candidate in respect of their safety.

For a host company, after a contractor has been appraised of any site specific issues, they are free to begin their assignment immediately, thus eliminating the need to give training whilst paying the agency for non-productive time. HSE Passport can simplify the process for recruitment agencies which could show a significant saving in administrative costs for their clients.

Blog URL: www.hsepassport-blog.com

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ENDS

Notes to Editors:

About HSE Passport

HSE Passport is a simple and cost effective solution to ensure that all contract and temporary workers are able to evidence a basic understanding of health and safety matters, as soon as they arrive on site. This ensures all parties can be confident that the liability for training has been captured.

–

Representatives from HSE Passport are available for media interviews and speaking opportunities.

For more information on HSE Passport contact: Nicky Frost, SMPR (Simply Marcomms Limited), 18 Generator Hall, Electric Wharf, Coventry, CV1 4JL, Tel: 0870 199 4044, Email: nicky@simplymarcomms.co.uk

If you would like to be added to the PR distribution list for future news or to arrange an interview, contact nicky@simplymarcomms.co.uk or call 0870 199 4044.

WorkRite, Posturite’s specialist e-learning and training division, is enjoying a record year. Turnover is up by almost 90% over the corresponding period in 2010, with several major new contracts in the bag.

These include the company’s biggest ever deal for its market-leading AssessRite DSE training and assessment package which has been licensed by a multinational energy company to be rolled out to more than 12,500 users in 24 different countries.

WorkRite has had to translate the software into a number of different languages including Arabic, Hindi and Gujarati.

National sales manager Ryan Church said: “On its own, this was a fantastic deal for us. But coming on top of several other major contract wins over this year, it means that we are yet again out-performing the market by a considerable distance.

“This is the fifth year in succession that we have seen big turnover increases, though never quite as large as this year. There’s no doubt that all the hard work we put into developing our products and services in the early stages is now paying off.

“Our powerful and intuitive management system, in particular, is a significant factor in winning business for us. Health and safety professionals love it because it makes their lives so much easier.”

Ryan was particularly pleased that WorkRite has been grabbing a considerable amount of business from the clutches of its competitors, as well as landing big contracts with companies that are moving into e-learning for the first time.

WorkRite also benefits from Posturite’s huge reputation within the office health and safety sector, he said.

“We’re fortunate to be part of a business that is the runaway market leader in its field and is well known for providing world-class products and excellent customer service.

“We are able to plug into its unique nationwide network of locally-based account managers and client support executives who make sure that business is conducted at a personal level. They’re all incredibly hands-on,” Ryan said.

Find out more about WorkRite’s suite of e-learning programs as well as its other training and consultancy services at www.workrite.co.uk or call 0845 345 0030.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced a new book that aims to improve the understanding of shift work and its impact on health and safety. More than 3.5 million people are employed as shift workers in the UK. They work in a wide variety of industries including the emergency services, healthcare, the utilities, transport, manufacturing, entertainment and retail. Poorly designed shift-working arrangements and/or long working hours may put them at risk of fatigue, accidents, injuries and ill health.

Managing Shift Work: Health and Safety Guidance is aimed at anyone with an interest in reducing the health and safety risks associated with shift work. This could include senior management, human resources, health and safety officers, occupational health advisors, trade union representatives, supervisors or shift workers themselves.

The book explains why we should be concerned about shift work, drawing on the evidence available in the scientific literature. It goes on to set out an approach to managing the risks from shift work and provides useful advice and good practice guidelines to help inform the design or redesign of shift work rotas.

The key issues

Research has shown that shifts, particularly night and early morning shifts, can have undesirable consequences for workers including disruption of the internal body clock, sleeping difficulties and fatigue. These in turn can affect performance, increase the likelihood of errors and accidents at work and might affect health and well-being.

Reducing the risks associated with shift work and fatigue can improve the health and safety of workers and may also financially benefit business and society in general by reducing sickness, injuries and accidents, and by increasing work efficiency and product quality.

Regulation and control of the risks associated with shift work

In the UK, there is no specific health & safety legislation on shift working. Nevertheless employers have general health & safety responsibilities (e.g. a duty of care in law) for their employees and others. This includes removing or controlling the risks of fatigue by properly organising and planning shift-working arrangements. Their broader responsibility for the health and safety of others (e.g. the public) who might be affected by their work activities provides another reason why it is important to control fatigue.

There are many different shift work-schedules and each schedule has different features. This sheer diversity of work and workplaces mean that there is no single optimal shift system that suits everyone. However, a planned and systematic approach to assessing and managing the risks of shift work can improve the health and safety of workers. HSE’s new book, Managing Shift Work: Health and Safety Guidance includes a simple five-step approach that employers could use for this purpose.

There are a number of key risk factors in shift schedule design, which must be considered when assessing and managing the risks of shift work. These are the workload, the work activity, shift timing and duration, direction of rotation and the number and length of breaks during and between shifts. Other features of the workplace environment such as the physical environment, management issues and employee welfare can also contribute to the risks associated with shift work.

All the key risk factors are covered in detail in the guidance, which provides practical advice on how to reduce the risks associated with them. This advice is also summarised in the form of best practice guidelines.

Source: HSE

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An uncomfortable work environment can affect productivity and increase the likelihood of work-related muscle strains and eyestrain. Incorporating ergonomics in the workplace of your small business can remedy an uncomfortable atmosphere. These simple changes help decrease stress levels and improve employee performance.

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