SURVEY RESULTS QUESTION DIFFERENCE IN PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTOR SICK LEAVE

The popular view that public sector workers take more sick leave than their private sector counterparts is misleading says an HSE report. The results of a recent HSE survey suggest that there is evidence of higher rates of employer under-recording of employee absence within the private sector, this being concentrated within smaller businesses.

The Survey on Workplace Absence, Sickness and (ill) Health (SWASH) 2005 also indicates that differences in public and private sector sickness absence rates are small, an average of approximately 0.3 days per employee, when account is taken of the size of an organisation; and differences in the age and gender profiles.

The survey, based on 10,000 interviews with employees, confirmed that levels of absence were higher in organisations with more than 250 employees. Almost all public sector organisations employ more than 250 employees. The majority of private sector employees work in small or medium sized organisations.

The average number of days absence per employee in small private businesses is 4 days, compared with 7 days in large (250+) private sector organisations.

On average, women have more sickness absence than men and the public sector employs a higher proportion of female workers. Older employees take more days sickness absence in total than their younger counterparts. However, young people have more spells of short-term absence than older employees. The age profile of the public sector is older than the private sector. The survey also found that public sector workers are more likely to work when they are ill than those in the private sector. Reports of work related stress are more prevalent amongst people who work face to face with the public. Stress was reported more widely amongst public than private sector respondents. More public sector workers work face to face with the public than their private sector counterparts.

There appear to be notable differences in sick pay arrangements between the private and public sectors, with over one-fifth of private sector respondents reporting that they received no pay for the first three days of continuous absence.

HSE WELCOMES THE INTEGRATION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY INTO THE 2012 CONSTRUCTION COMMITMENTS

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) welcomes Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell's signing of the '2012 Construction Commitments' on behalf of the Government. The Commitments provide a strong health and safety message for those contractors considering tendering for Olympic construction contracts. The document, which has been developed by the construction industry with the strong support of Government, builds on the determination of Lord Hunt, Minister for Health and Safety, to see the public sector become an exemplary health and safety client for construction work. The '2012 Construction Commitments' recognises that health and safety is integral to the success of any project. As well as health and safety being one of the six key principles within the document, it is a common theme to all other principles in the Commitment.

Stephen Williams, HSE's Chief Inspector of Construction and HSE's lead on matters associated with the Olympic games, said

"This is a golden opportunity for those involved in construction to showcase to the world this country's ability to build the infrastructure for the Games on time, to quality and with an exemplary health and safety record. The development of the 2012 Construction Commitments is an excellent example of the industry taking ownership of the management of risk, demonstrating leadership and working in partnership with others. I urge all in the industry to work together to embrace the principles of the Commitments to help ensure a healthier and safer environment in the build up to the Olympics".

The Commitments were developed by the Strategic Forum for Construction in conjunction with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry, and aim to maximise the opportunity to showcase the very best of British construction practices and help deliver the Olympic Games in time, safely and to budget.
The 2012 Construction Commitments can be found at www.strategicforum.org.uk

REVAMPED GUIDANCE TO SIMPLIFY RISK ASSESSMENTS

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today urged businesses to spend less time dotting 'i's and crossing 't's and more time on putting practical actions into effect. To help companies do this HSE has issued a revamped risk assessment guide featuring examples that spell out, in plain English, what is and what is not expected.

Launching the guidance, HSE's Deputy Chief Executive, Jonathan Rees, said:

"We want to save lives, not tie businesses up in red tape. Good risk assessment is the way to achieve this. Risk assessment is at the heart of sensible health and safety. We believe it should be a practical way of protecting people from real harm and suffering, not a bureaucratic back-covering exercise. On its own paperwork never saved a life, it needs to be a means to an end, resulting in actions that protect people in practice. "I hope that this new, more straightforward guidance will help managers understand what's expected of them and get more focus on the kind of risks that cause real harm and suffering. The ones that killed 220 workers last year and resulted in 35 million working days being lost. This guide takes the user through the process step-by-step with the minimum of fuss to achieve this aim."

The guidance Five Steps to Risk Assessment, which was first published in 1993, has been revised and simplified to make it even easier for normal business people, not just health and safety experts, to use.
It also places greater emphasis on making sure that decisions are actually put into practice.

The 11-page booklet, which is also available free online at: www.hse.gov.uk/risk, provides advice and tips on five key elements to an effective risk assessment: identifying the hazards; deciding who might be harmed and how; evaluating the risks and deciding on precautions; recording findings and implementing them; and finally ensuring they are reviewed at regular intervals.

This is supported by four examples of what a risk assessment might look like. The examples help emphasise that risk assessment need not be difficult and the paperwork need not be long and complicated. For most, bullet points work very well.

Copies of Five Steps to Risk Assessment, INDG163(rev2), are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, tel: 01787-881165 or fax: 01787-313995. Priced publications are also available from good booksellers. Alternatively the leaflet can be downloaded free from the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/risk

PROGRAMME TO PROTECT TWO MILLION WORKERS

More than two million workers in Great Britain are exposed to either excessive noise or hand arm vibration. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a new Programme aimed at protecting these workers from suffering permanent damage to their health as a result of their work.

The Programme is designed to:

  • eliminate new cases of occupational induced hearing damage; and
  • control new cases of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) sufficiently to enable workers to remain at work without disability

The launch event was held, on Monday 10 July at EEF, the manufacturers' organisation headquarters in London. Speakers at the event included Liz Gibby, and Bruce Appleton from HSE, Steve Walter and Gary Booton from EEF and industry specialists including John Davis of Devonport Management Ltd who spoke about good practice in ship building, Jack Knight of the British Tunneling Society, Rob Miguel of AMICUS, George Bond of Metal and Waste Recycling Ltd, Peter and Elaine Houldridge of Complete Hire Services who spoke about customers and suppliers and Sayeed Khan, Chief Medical Officer at EEF and Health and Safety Commissioner.

Barry Hill, a former mechanic technician who was signed off work in his 50's with tissue damage to his hands causing numbness, tingling and blanching was present at the event and said,

"HAVS has affected my day to day living. I have a loss of manual dexterity and find it very difficult to use my fingers, and in particular to my thumbs. Gripping with my thumbs is very difficult and painful, for example when using a brush. I dread the cold months and even during rest periods I experience coldness and painfulness. I can no longer do some of the hobbies I used to enjoy, like swimming and angling."

Steve Walter of the EEF said,

"EEF believes that protecting and promoting the health of employees is key to successful and sustainable business performance."

Sayeed Khan,

"Help us to help you? HSE is keen to promote good practice and identify problem areas that remain."

The Programme will include a range of activities including stakeholder engagement and inspection activity to promote the use of good practice controls measures to control exposure of workers, initially will focus on Hand-Arm Vibration exposure in foundries, heavy fabrication and construction. More information about these controls and the Programme can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/vibration .

GREATER PROTECTION NEEDED

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, minister for health and safety, addressed the 17th annual Hazards conference in Manchester to call for greater partnership working to protect British workers and give Great Britain a health and safety system that leads the world.

In his speech Lord Hunt re-iterated the important role that health and safety representatives play in improving the protection to their fellow workers and how good communication between the workforce and the employer is vital in raising standards and keeping workplaces safe for all who work there.

Lord Hunt said,

"I want to take this opportunity to thank all safety representatives, for being there, for you continued commitment to health and safety. You do a vital job, day in, day out, and have a vital role in helping to make workplaces safer."

Also covered in the speech was the role that formal enforcement plays in raising standards. He talked about a clear commitment to targeted, consistent and proportionate enforcement that does not place unnecessary burdens on businesses but bring to account those whose failings put workers’ health and safety at risk.

Great Britain has an excellent health and safety record, with injuries requiring more than three days off work falling by 67% since the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act in 1974. This has been achieved by all parties working closely together; regulators, industry and trades unions, but more still need to be done.

Lord Hunt continued,

"There is absolutely no room for complacency, we still have far too many people coming to harm as a result of work. We all want to see significant risks well managed and we need HSE and Local Authorities to work with business to help improve risk management standards. But I also expect them to be tough on those businesses that wilfully break the law."

MINISTER RECOGNISES LARGE ORGANISATIONS' PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, minister for health and safety has presented awards to the first 25 organisations to complete the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Corporate Health and Safety Performance Index (CHaSPI). CHaSPI is a web-based tool that allows large organisations to track their health and safety performance year on year and to compare their performance against others.

Lord Hunt commented,

"Growing support and use of CHaSPI will help drive health and safety improvements in large organisations."

Health and Safety Commission Chair Bill Callaghan said,

"We see good health and safety management as part of good management in general. CHaSPI can help this and it promotes the Commission's strategy of working with and through others."
"We see CHaSPI as a long term measure, so it is gratifying to see the steady increase in organisations whose results already appear on the website."

CHaSPI is designed for completion by organisation with over 250 employees. Results are publicly available, thereby allowing key stakeholders, like current and potential investors, to view the results. Good health and safety management is often a sign of a well managed organisation as it shows that the organisation takes the welfare of its staff seriously.

Health and safety failings cost companies in terms of lost productivity, staff time, reputation and also the possibility of formal enforcement being taken against them.
The organisations represented were:

  • Amec NNC
  • Anglian Water Services Ltd
  • Arvin Meritor HVBS
  • The Corps of Commissionaires
  • Geologistics Management Ltd
  • Health and Safety Executive
  • Historic Scotland
  • Hortech Ltd
  • London Borough of Havering
  • McCarthy and Stone plc
  • North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Oxoid Ltd
  • RWE npower
  • SDC Builders Ltd
  • SMG plc
  • Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Details of CHaSPI, including how to complete it and the results of those companies which have already completed can be found on the website www.chaspi.info-exchange.com/ which can also be accessed from the HSE website.

ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

A new report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) concludes that Britain's existing health and safety system is flexible enough to deal with any hazards and risks from energy developments, and to achieve sensible risk management.

HSE's report, published today, is in response to a request from Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks for an expert report to the Government's energy review on health and safety issues associated with a range of energy developments, and on the potential role of pre-licensing assessments of nuclear reactor designs should the Government decide to look further into new nuclear electricity generation.

Announcing the report, HSE Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger said:

"The analysis of the risks and hazards associated with the energy developments reviewed in our report suggests that the existing framework of controls is adequate. We have identified a number of areas where a more specific review of current arrangements is required. The urgency and priority that attaches to these areas, and the resourcing consequences for HSE, will depend on the decisions the Government takes at the conclusion of its review."

The report covers

  • gas storage;
  • carbon capture and storage (CCS);
  • some renewable sources (wind, wave, tidal and biomass);
  • distributed generation, including hydrogen; nuclear power; and clean coal technology.
    Its key findings are:
  • Hazards and risks of gas storage are significant but generally well understood and can be managed through existing arrangements and standards. Some review of the current legal framework is needed to ensure adequacy of major hazard controls in this area;
  • CCS is a large scale, potentially challenging new technology but enough is known to conclude that the risks of its deployment are tolerable.
  • Maintaining safety standards will depend on filling gaps in the knowledge base, developing new standards and reviewing the regulatory framework;
  • Current law is generally adequate to cover risks associated with wind energy. The main need is for more attention to safe design and integrity and (onshore) closer scrutiny at the land use planning stage. Wave and tidal energy are much less developed, but the risks are expected to be comparable to offshore wind;
  • Biomass processes are not particularly novel and any expanded use is not likely to require change to current arrangements. The main need is for training and familiarisation of those operating the processes;

Distributed generation involves a wide range of applications and associated risks. The risks are no different from those commonly encountered elsewhere, so can be adequately controlled through current arrangements. There is a greater need in future to isolate parts of the network to ensure safe working.

Nuclear risks are well known and understood. HSE's expectation is that "third generation" reactor systems will demonstrate appropriate levels of safety with risk no greater than those of existing reactors.

On nuclear prelicensing, the report proposes a two-phase approach; a reactor design authorisation process based on a generic site concept and a site- and operator-specific assessment on which to base the granting of a nuclear site licence. This process is intended to provide a more transparent, rigorous and robust regulatory approach to the safety of any new nuclear reactors. Cleaner coal technologies are developed from well-understood techniques and present acceptable risks, which can be controlled under current arrangements. There is a need for more information and close monitoring ofcritical areas, especially underground gasification.

Copies of the report, The health and safety risks and regulatory strategy related to energy developments: An expert report by the Health and Safety Executive contributing to the Government's Energy Review, 2006, can be seen at www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/energyreview.htm

Printed copies are also available free from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, tel: 01787-881165 or fax: 01787-313995.

BRENT BRAVO INQUIRY DETERMINATION: HSE STATEMENT

The determination in a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the deaths of two workers on the Brent Bravo offshore installation in September 2003 was published on 18th July. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)extends its condolences to the families and loved ones of Sean McCue and Keith Moncrieff. HSE's own findings have been born out in the determination and confirm the importance of our continued emphasis on plant integrity issues in the offshore industry.

HSE fully co-operated with the Inquiry and provided 11 witnesses who gave key evidence to help establish the circumstances of the two men's deaths and the management failings that led to them. Inspectors from HSE's Offshore Division had already carried out a full and thorough investigation into the incident, which culminated in the prosecution of Shell UK Limited last year resulting in a fine of £900,000.

Ian Whewell, Head of HSE's Offshore Division said:

"The Sheriff's determination endorses the importance of the findings from HSE's investigation into the double fatality on Brent Bravo. There has been a significant record of improvement in the management of offshore health and safety since a new legal regime was introduced after the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster. However, there is no room for complacency, as these two tragic fatalities illustrate.
"HSE believes the industry can, and should, do better. The industry agrees and has set itself a target of making the UK Continental Shelf the safest offshore sector in the world by 2010. HSE is working with the industry, with support from trades unions, to help make this happen.
"Health and safety law provides a comprehensive framework to regulate offshore risks. Its primary requirement is that those who create these risks are responsible for managing them. This means ensuring potential dangers are identified and systems of work put into place to reduce dangers to the lowest practicable level. HSE enforces the law robustly and will continue to do so against any company that fails to manage and control the risks it creates.
"Our sympathies remain with the families of Sean McCue and Keith Moncrieff."

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