April Minutes

Merseyside Occupational Health and Safety Group

www.mohasg.org.uk

Meeting Notes 20^th April 2010

1. Welcome and introduction of two new visitors.

NHS Royal Liverpool/Broadgreen Hospital

Cereal Partners

2. Apologies for absence were received from:

John Edmonds

Eileen Blackmore

3. Approval of last meetings minutes - on website

4. Matters arising - NA

5. Any other business/members updates/reports - NA

6. Next meeting dates:IOSH Tue 4^th May - 6pm Village Hotel

Construction 10^th May - 1pm AGM /Buffet / HSE update

MOHASG Tues 18^th May - Fire Risk Assessment

April Presentation - HSE Update

Visiting Speaker - Christina Goddard - HM Inspector of Health and Safety

(FMU 02, Redgrave Court, Bootle.)

Christina will cover the new group structures within the HSE, HSE strategy and the HSE agreed work plan for this work year.

Christina gave a thorough and interesting presentation on the New reorganisation and the forthcoming Strategy for HSE 2010/11. Her presentation made for a lively discussion with questions and answers, many remaining for one to one chats after the meeting. We thanked Christina for her time and presentation. Brief notes and links mentioned follow below.

New Re organisation

The old HSE structure was based on geographical areas with industry specialisms e.g. engineering, manufacturing , services, construction etc. However due to the falling numbers of inspectors (now down to about 400 to cover the whole of the country) and to create a more efficient use of time , HSE has reorganised in to a multi group situation. Inspectors now have a Geographical areas and cover all sectors, so effectively the geographical area has shrunk but the industrial sectors covered have expanded.

More senior and experienced inspectors however will have specialisms such as hospitals or larger companies/industries to look after as well as their given area.

The new Strategies were formulated back in 2008. The html version can be found on the HSE website. At the bottom of these note are all the links and details of the documents Christina talks about.

New strategy contained among other issues:

Resetting the direction of HSE and identifying the way forward. HSE is now facilitating health and safety, using stake holders, employers, trade associations., workers, self employed, LA's and other Gov. Depts. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) (ext DTI) administrators and prof bodies, voluntary and 3^rd sector agencies.

There is 20 billion cost to the economy as a result of accidents and ill health. Although there has been a slow year on year improvement statistics have now plateaued and although the UK has the lowest rate of accidents, Sweden and Ireland remain lower statistically in non fatal accidents.

Investigations /securing justice

HSE's primary focus is working in partnerships to assist duty holders in preventing working accidents and ill health, to improve safety standards and rigorously seek justice of those who put others at risk or deliberately flaunt the law. Wilful disregard of h&S will not be taken lightly.

The need for strong leadership has been identified, this goes back to the Lord Robens report following investigation into Flixborough disaster.

There is an On-line audit form for Directors again on the HSE website.

With the changes in the Corporate Manslaughter charges may now be more likely to hit Directors harder. Leadership has to come from the board. There is no excuse for burying heads in the sand. Health & Safety awareness courses should be taken and management need to surround themselves with technically competent people. Directors and management need to use; Worker Involvement, Trade Unions

Employee representatives to support the company policy and initiatives and to empower the workforce to actively put in place and monitor safer working practices.

There is movement to offer more SME's support over the last 5 years. 90-95% of UK companies employ less than 10 people. These businesses do not have a lot of time or money to access information or make h&s a top priority. HSE have in introduced free Safety, Health Awareness Days (SHAD's) so far these days have been aimed at Farmers, construction, MVR , they are about to tackle care homes as a result of a recent increase in incidents involving slings /hoists. This care home initiative will run through 2010/11.

There is a 'sting in the tail with the SHADS - if you are invited and you don't turn up - you WILL get a visit.

Avoiding catastrophe

This initiative is looking at Low risk but high impact scenarios, such as explosions, major disasters.

Flagrant breaches of Health and safety will result in prosecution  Enforcement Policy Statement (EPS) strategy again on HSE site stating this.

Police enforce the corporate manslaughter taken by CPS. HSE work closely with police on work fatalities. Scrutiny of management systems will take place again management must prove H&S awareness or face the consequences.

Hot of press

The Health and Safety Executive Business Plan 2010/2011 - free download - this document sets out goals and objectives for next 2 years

(key pages 14 and 15 - table details what the interventions are going to be based on.)

They cover such areas as Agriculture, construction, waste and recycling industry, slips trips, falls from height, workplace transport, long latency disease, (asbestos occupational asthma), msd's and work related stress.

Private sectors and large organisations work related stress management standards coming your way!!!!

HSE website - download the 'stress man standards tool kit'. 5 stages (see below for link).

North West/ Merseyside group - What's New??

Business plan

Waste recycling

Management of stress

Procurement of contractors (the intelligent customer)

• taking up ref's

• looking at method statements

• competence

Discussion/Q and A Session

There was a lively Q & A session. Should you wish to have access to the questions and responses, that were given on the day by Christina on the information provided by members please get in touch with Jayne Stephens. jaynes@healthandsafetyclick.net

Useful links mentioned on the day :

HSE website

Stress Tool Kit/ Line manager competency indicator tool

Stress management competency indicator tool

HSE Business Plan and Strategies

HSE Trainee Inspectors Recruitment