HSE & Edinburgh University working together to manage Biological Safety

1. HSE & Edinburgh University working together to manage Biological Safety Dr Matthew Penrose HSE Biological Agents Unit

2. Overview of Biological Agents Unit Proposed new ways of working What a BAU inspection likely to mean for you Aims

3. Changes in HSE2004 Strategy has 4 key messages: sensible health and safety is a cornerstone of a civilised society sensible health and safety is about managing risks, not eliminating them the people best placed to make workplaces safer are the staff and managers who work in them. They do this best by working together; and HSE is committed to being a good partner – working with others to improve health and safety

4. What this means for HSE’s Biological Agents Unit Promote high standards of safety in work activities involving biological agents Provide assurance to the public, government and others that appropriate controls are in place Underpin the application and development of the biological sciences for the benefit of society

5. In practice Focus resources where we can have the most impact Focus on achieving high H&S standards Risk based High hazard organisms Lower hazard organisms which could be better controlled

6. Allocated to larger centres Maintains overview of all BA issues throughout centre Range of techniques to influence H&S Interaction with range of staff Help in the delivery of sensible H&S management Designated Biological Agents Inspector

7. What we don’t want… “Probe after Scots student’s smallpox accident” The Sunday Post 17th December 2000 “SARS spreads in China: Investigation launched into lab safety.”27 April 2004 Nature Science Update

8. Powerful tool to influence H&S standards Assurance that risks are being sensibly managed - snapshot Evidence for effectiveness of wider H&S management system Feed into future intervention programmes BAU Inspections: what they mean for you

9. Inspection Programme • Developed in consultation – improve transparency • Initial benchmark inspections - provide evidence base • Future visits - focus on improvements • Agree programme of improvements • Check at subsequent inspections • Reduce inspections where risks are well managed and standards are high

10. “Inspection” DOCUMENTS OBSERVATION INTERVIEWING “scrutinising workplace controls for compliance with safety legislation”

11. “Audit” OBSERVATION DOCUMENTS INTERVIEWING “effectiveness of all aspects of H&S management system”

12. Safety Management • Policy • Organisation • Planning & Implementing • Measuring Performance • Auditing • Reviewing

13. Documents • Notifications • Risk Assessments • Publications & Internet • Local inspection reports • Local safety committee minutes • Local rules

14. Interviewing • Risk Assessment - when, how, who, why, review • Notifications - work still within scope? • Training & Competency - knowledge of hazards, risks & key safety features • ‘Living’ codes of practice - “what would you do if?……….”

15. Observations What happens in practice…… 4 Hazard 3 Acceptable risk 2 1 Control “sensible health and safety is about managing risks, not eliminating them”

16. Controls • Physical • engineering controls through to PPE • Chemical • waste inactivation, spills treatment • Procedural • Training, culture, adherence to SOPs, human factors “the people best placed to make workplaces safer are the staff and managers who work in them.”

17. Physical Controls

18. Physical Controls

19. Physical Controls

20. Chemical Controls

21. Procedural Controls

22. Procedural Controls

23. Inspections not just about physical containment Provide evidence of effectiveness of local safety management Risk assessment, adherence to local rules, safety culture of equal importance There is nothing that we do as HSE inspectors that you cannot do yourselves Inspections Summary

24. Managing Biological Safety at Edinburgh Safety Committees Risk Assessment, Local Rules, Monitoring Lead Scientists Safety Advisers “HSE is committed to being a good partner – working with others to improve health and safety”

25. Undertake number of ‘benchmark’ inspections over coming months Use evidence to develop inspection programme to cover next 3 years Focus on areas where we can have the most impact Move away from areas that are well managed Work with others to try and tackle potential areas of conflict Next Steps

26. Feedback and Questions