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Public safety – the evolving scene

The Arboricultural Association National Amenity Arboriculture Conference 2012. Public safety – the evolving scene. David Ball ( www.davidjball.com ) Centre for Decision Analysis & Risk Management Middlesex University www.mdx.ac.uk/risk. Significant events since 2011. 1. “Reclaiming health

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Public safety – the evolving scene

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  1. The Arboricultural Association National Amenity Arboriculture Conference 2012 Public safety – the evolving scene David Ball (www.davidjball.com) Centre for Decision Analysis & Risk Management Middlesex University www.mdx.ac.uk/risk

  2. Significant events since 2011 1. “Reclaiming health and safety for all: An independent review of health and safety legislation” by Professor Ragnar E. Löfstedt November 2011

  3. Key points from the Löfstedt Review a. The primary legislation is okay (HSWA) All measures which are “reasonably practicable” must be implemented Cost, time, difficulty of control measure Benefit of control measure (i.e. the reduced risk)

  4. Key points from the Löfstedt Review b. There are issues in interpreting ‘reasonable practicability’ Cost, time, difficulty of control measure Benefit of control measure (i.e. the reduced risk)

  5. Key points from the Löfstedt Review b. There are issues in interpreting ‘reasonable practicability’ • I regularly meet people who work in H&S who have little or even no idea of the meaning of reasonable practicability Cost, time, difficulty of control measure Benefit of control measure (i.e. the reduced risk)

  6. Key points from the Löfstedt Review c. We live in a ‘risk-based’ society (not ‘hazard-based’) “We have also taken the opportunity to dispel any notion that we are moving away from a risk-based approach.” HSE, R2P2, p vi

  7. Key points from the Löfstedt Review c. We live in a ‘risk-based’ society (not ‘hazard-based’) Risk-based thinking That’s a hazard. What’s the risk? Decide what to do. Hazard-based thinking That’s a hazard. Eliminate it. “We have also taken the opportunity to dispel any notion that we are moving away from a risk-based approach.” HSE, R2P2, p vi

  8. Significant events since 2011 2. Publications of the National Tree Safety Group

  9. Five principles: • trees provide a wide variety of benefits to society • trees are living organisms that naturally lose branches or fall • the overall risk to human safety is extremely small • tree owners have a legal duty of care • a balanced and proportionate approach to safety is required

  10. Chapter 1: ‘Balancing risk and benefit’ ‘Risk-benefit assessment’ Benefits of outdoor education

  11. Risk-benefit assessment (RBA) • Is it new? • Is it controversial? • Is it legal? • Will it prevail?

  12. Before it. Assess the benefits. Then do • a conventional risk assessment • It’s a 3-way trade-off between benefits of a thing (tree), • cost of control, and benefit (risk-reduction) of control • c) RBA is an acceptable form of risk assessment How does RBA fit in with Risk Assessment?

  13. Is the struggle over? “They think it’s all over”

  14. Who are the experts in RBA?

  15. Don’t lower your guard • Keep benefits of trees firmly on the agenda • Too much record keeping is harmful • Risk assessment is not easy. It’s hard and very • uncertain • Prosecuting tree owners, except in cases of gross • negligence, should be condemned

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