Basic Health & Safety

Basic Health & Safety • Domestic arrangements • Outline of training session • Presented by Vincent Theobald • University Safety Office 1 Park Terrace Tel. 6274

Health and Safety Health and safety is intended to bring about condition free from risk of injury or threat to our health and well-being. This objective is not a natural state of affairs.

We Believe Workplace accidents, illness and incidents are preventable provided that Health and Safety is Managed

The four health and safety motivators Why Safety

Fundamental misconceptions Some frequently quoted misconceptions : • Accidents cannot be prevented • We don’t have many accidents • Safety is expensive • We are insured anyway

Injuries and near-misses Major injury is the tip of the iceberg. • major injury • minor injury • damage • accident without loss

How big is the iceberg APAU studies showed accidents cost: • One organisation 37% of annualised profit. • Another 8.5% of tender price. • Another 5% of running costs.

Safety savings “We recognise the importance of costing loss events as part of total safety management. Good safety is good business.” (ICI group SHE Manager) “Safety is, without doubt, the most crucial investment we can make, and the question is not what it costs us, but what we save.” (Chairman & Managing Director, Conoco (UK) Ltd) “Prevention is not only better but cheaper than cure … Profits and safety are not in competition. On the contrary, safety at work is good business.” (MD British Petroleum plc)

An aside on Insurance Issues The main types of insurance are • Employers Liability required by law • Public Liability required by law • Product Liability for organisations making / supplying things or services • Motor Vehicle and specific issues

So we’re covered by insurance? Insured costs: • Covering injury, • ill-health, damage Uninsured costs: • Product and material damage, tool and equipment damage, legal costs, expenditure on emergency supplies, cleaning site, production delays, overtime working and temporary labour, investigation time, supervisors’ time diverted, clerical effort, fines, loss of expertise/experience.

What could happen? Minor injury Near-miss Death Major injury

The Accident Triangle Practical Loss Control Leadership, F E Bird and G L Germain, 1969.

University v National injuries

Health – the slow accident Occupational ill health is responsible for more harm to people at work than accidents. • About 3000 people a year die from exposure to asbestos – the same number as die from road traffic accidents each year. • Occupationally induced musculoskeletal damage results in more work time lost than all other causes. • Occupational allergies are massively on the rise. This includes allergies to Latex and other common materials. • This issue is something the University is only beginning to address, and a new service has been established.

Why report accidents and ill health Accidents, Near Misses and Occupationally induced ill health should be reported: • Because the law requires some specific types of events to be reported to the Enforcing Authorities. • Because the University Safety Policy requires all accidents and near misses to be reported to the USO. • To enable investigation to prevent further events. • To identify trends and problem areas.

Legal Issues • The law makes many complex demands on the University • These need to be interpreted. • To do this you need to know a little of the law and legal language involved.

Reasonably practicable Risk should be set against the effort required to remove it. • It is not reasonably practicable if the cost of removal of risk is disproportionately high • It is reasonably practicable if a risk can be removed at minimal cost and effort

HSWA general duties - employer The HSWA places the following general duties on the employer, which apply to staff ,students, visitors and contractors: • provide safe place of work • provide safe plant and equipment • provide safe systems of work

HSWA general duties - employees The HSWA places the following general duties on staff, students, visitors and contractors: • to take reasonable care • to co-operate with the employer • not to interfere with safety arrangements

Safety Management This begins with Policy and uses tools such as Local Rules and Risk Assessmentto establish risk controls. Is specific legal duty to manage safety so that all risks are suitably and sufficiently controlled.

Herald of Free Enterprise “The failure on the part of management to give proper and clear direction was a contributory cause of the disaster.”

Clapham Junction Accident “A concern for safety which is sincerely held and repeatedly expressed but, nevertheless, is not carried through into action, is as much protection from danger as no concern at all.”

Safety Policy • Legal requirement under S2(3) of HSWA. • University Policy published in a book and on web. • Schools need their Policies. • Labs/buildings may need additional policy/arrangements to provide more detail. • Arrangements will need to include Local Rules. • Some local rules are needed by law - e.g. rules for Ionising Radiation.

Responsible People • The VC. • The PVC for Safety. • The Provost / Registrar. • The Head of School / Service. • (The School Safety Officer). • The Lab/Area Manager. • The Lecturer. • Individual researchers, Staff, Students.

Identifying hazards Examples which affect safety and/or health: • Chemicals • Noise and vibration • Electricity • Biological hazards • Lifting and carrying • Repetitive movements

Risk assessment The following is a systematic approach to risk management. 1) Consider tasks/situations. 2) Identify hazards and who is exposed/at risk. 3) Consider the severity and likelihood of exposure. 4) Evaluate if the hazard is adequately controlled. 5) Record your findings. 6) Consider further suitable controls (if need - go back to 4). 7) Implement the risk control measures. 8) Ensure people understand the control measures. 9) Monitor the effectiveness of the measures. 10) Review and introduce any corrective actions.

Risk reduction: options for control The options for control are listed in order of priority: • elimination e.g. do not use acrylamide • substitution e.g. use acrylamide gels not powders • containment e.g. work inside a fume cabinet • protection e.g. use a dust mask

Result from Risk Control • Lower danger to staff, students, visitors and others. • Clear responsibility as to who does what. • Documented assessments showing reasoning. • Clear procedures for “high risk” work. • Monitored and maintained systems of work. • Clear actions to take when things do go wrong (i.e. an emergency plan).

Legal duties COMMON LAW • duty of one individual to another - “Duty of Care” • STATUTE LAW • Criminal Law • duty between individual and the state

The costs of failure • Failure to manage health and safety can result in: • prosecution, fines and imprisonment • compensation claims for damages • loss of output or service • replacement costs • loss of reputation

Cases of note • Mr RE Hill - Asbestos • R v. F Howe & Son (Eng) Ltd - Fines • R v. Associated Octel Co. Ltd - Contractors • UCL London - Sharps box • Birmingham University - Lab Safety Regs • A University fined £70,000 following an accident (2006)

Basic Health & Safety