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Looking ahead in health and safety. Dr John Herbert Director of Health, Safety & Environment, EEF Sheffield. Looking Ahead in Health & Safety. Current Performance Corporate Manslaughter Sensible Risk Management Physical Agents Directive Directors Duties CDM Revision Future Changes. RISK
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Looking ahead in health and safety. Dr John Herbert Director of Health, Safety & Environment, EEF Sheffield
Looking Ahead in Health & Safety • Current Performance • Corporate Manslaughter • Sensible Risk Management • Physical Agents Directive • Directors Duties • CDM Revision • Future Changes
RISK SAFETY HEALTH FATAL Disabling Major Acute Chronic FATAL ACCIDENT injury injury illness disease DISEASE • - practical solutions • - transparent danger • no technical challenge • 241 deaths • 30,000 major injuries • 274,000 over 3 day - insidious danger - few effective solutions - unquantifiable “loss” 3,500 - 50,000 deaths 2,200,000 ill-health cases WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES?
The UK Agenda • Simplification • New routes to regulation and enforcement • Worker involvement • Directors’ responsibilities • Joined up health and wellbeing agenda • Rehabilitation • Sensible approach to risk management
Sensible Approach to Risk Management • Risk aversion is negatively impacting competitiveness • Claims culture • Drive for risk elimination • Employers don’t know when they have done ‘enough’ • Risk cannot be eliminated • Effective risk management is about ‘balance’ • HSE ‘Get a Life’ Campaign • Supported by EEF and other key H&S Organisations • HSE Myth of the Month Campaign • Key ongoing issue
Physical Agents Directives • Originally proposed 1992 • Now being implemented as suite of 4 Directives • Vibration • Noise • Electromagnetic Fields • Optical Radiation • New obligations on employers to control workplace exposure
Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 • Hand-Arm Vibration • Action Value 2.5 m/s2 • Limit Value 5 m/s2 • Whole Body Vibration • Action level 0.8 m/s2 • Limit Value 1.15 m/s2 • Implementation • 6th July 2005 • Transitional arrangements until July 2010 for equipment in use before 6th July 2007
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 • Focus on ‘Control’ • Revised Exposure Limits • Lower Action Value 80 dB(A) LEP,d • Upper Action Value 85 dB(A) LEP,d • Limit Value 87 dB(A) LEP,d • Implementation • 6th April 2006 • Additional 2 years for the entertainment sector
Electromagnetic Fields • Protect workers from EMF • Short term effects • Electrical excitation at low frequency • Localised heating at high frequency • Sets limits for exposure • Risk Assessment based but… • No evidence of ‘harm’ therefore no risk • No risk = no health and safety benefits • MRI Situation now accepted and being reviewed • 4 year implementation delay for research
Optical Radiation • Same format as other PA directives • EL for man-made sources of optical radiation • Manage exposure to natural UV • Processes include welding, lasers, foundries Etc • No regulatory impact assessment • Expect implementation 2010
Directors’ Duties for Health and Safety • New HSC Guidance Document be Published 29th November 2007 • Output from joint HSE / IoD Project • Aims to communicate good practice to motivate company directors • Focuses on business benefits of effective Health and safety management • Specific guidance for SMEs may follow
4 Point Agenda: PLANNING: Policy, Agenda, Visibility, Strategic Issue – a Corporate Governance Issue DELIVERY: Procurement/ Supply Chain Issues, Resources, Competency/ Training, Risk Assessments, Worker Involvement, Management of Change MONITOR: Reactive & Proactive, Health & Safety Audit REVIEW: Annually (at least), Reporting, Address Weaknesses/ Celebrate Success! LEADING HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK – DRAFT IoD/ HSC GUIDANCE
Revised CDM Regulations • Consolidates current CDM and CHSW Regs • Clearer more straightforward requirements • Abolishes role of planning supervisor • Introduces new role for CDM co-ordinator • New ACOP - now available • Key Focus Areas • Improved risk management • Improved communication and co-ordination on site • Focus on planning and management of projects • Emphasis of client duties • Implementation 6th April 2007
New Legislation Commencement 1st October 2007 • 33 new / revised Workplace Exposure Limits • Coal mines (inhalable dust) Regulations
Pending New Legislation Commencement 6th April 2008 • Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 • Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 • Application to music and entertainment sectors
Europe Breaking News • EC considering Directive on MSDs • Consultation complete • Decision to follow • Being identified as Better Regulation opportunity as it would replace the Directives covering DSE and Manual Handling