HSC AND HSE CONSULTS ON DISABILITY AND GENDER EQUALITY SCHEMES

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is seeking comments on its draft Disability and Gender Equality Schemes. The Consultation Document: Equality Schemes Framework: Disability Equality Scheme, Gender Equality Scheme can be found on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd209.htm

The joint schemes aim to ensure that disability and gender equality fully informs HSC/E's activities. Key actions commit HSC/E to making a difference to the working lives of Britain's diverse communities, so demonstrating the genuine desire to conduct workplace health and safety regulation with sensitivity and respect for people's different needs, vulnerabilities and perspectives on life.

The priority actions have been developed in consultation with both internal and external interest groups, include the most up-to-date research findings and have used forecasting to ensure the impact brings greatest benefits. You are invited to influence the final schemes and help make the workplace healthier and safer for everyone. Comments o Jacqui Olusemo, HSE, Rose Court, 5NW Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS, tel 0207 7176730. Alternatively : DESGES@hse.gsi.gov.uk

All public authorities are required to publish a disability equality scheme by 4 December 2006 and a gender equality scheme by 6 April 2007. To reflect the HSE's approach to diversity, it has developed an overarching framework to structure and integrate the two schemes that will be launched together in December. This will be incorporated into the Race Equality Scheme into this framework in 2007.

MIGRANT WORKER RESEARCH PUBLISHED

New research revealing the risks faced by migrant workers in England and Wales was presented at a South East Region Trades Union Congress conference in London. It outlines the potential for exploitation of migrants and other workers in sectors where attention to health and safety is poor, and highlights the challenges to employers, HSE and other agencies in tackling the problems.

The research, Health and Safety and migrant workers in England and Wales, which was carried out by London Metropolitan University on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr502.htm

The research was commissioned by HSE to assess whether risk of injury/ill health was greater for migrants. This followed the apparent rise in evidence of poor standards in migrant working conditions such as the Morecambe Bay incident in February 2004 ? that were not clearly reflected in an increase in complaints or reports to HSE under RIDDOR. In addition, incident rates in industries where migrant employment is highest, including the agriculture and construction sectors, failed to show the expected increase in incident numbers that could be attributed to the influx of a significant migrant worker population.

The report found that migrant workers may be experiencing higher levels of workplace accidents because they are more likely to work long hours, to work shifts and to have limited understanding of health and safety. Contributory factors also highlighted are communication difficulties and the fact migrants are more likely to take up work in sectors that they have not been trained or had experience working in. HSE believes that these factors are relevant to other vulnerable groups of workers as well, and is seeking to co-ordinate its efforts to ensure improved health and safety protection for all concerned.

To tackle the issues raised by the findings, the research has recommended better-targeted HSE/Local Authority inspection, enforcement and supporting activity as well as greater provision of targeted health and safety advice and support for migrant workers and those who employ them. Commenting on the reports findings and recommendations, Jeremy Bevan, HSE programme manager on migrant workers, said: "HSE welcomes the research, and accepts the broad focus of the recommendations. We are already taking action to implement the research's key findings, in particular we are continuing to target inspections and enforcement in sectors where migrant workers and other vulnerable workers are most likely to work, and are currently reviewing how best to reach these workers and their employers with key health and safety messages. In other areas where HSE involvement is recommended, planning is underway to consider further resourcing during the next year.

"We are also working with other government departments to stem the problem of illegal employment at source, by detecting and deterring those who, as employers, seek to evade regulation by Government. In addition, pilot initiatives such as those being carried out by the DTI have the potential to provide outreach to migrants' and other vulnerable groups, and reduce their vulnerability to exploitation at work."

HSE's Research Reports are available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_htm/index.htm

HSE LAUNCHES REACH HELPDESK

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is now providing a helpdesk to support UK business in the run-up to the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals (REACH) regulations coming into force. The helpdesk can be contacted on 0845 408 9575 or via email at ukreachca@hse.gsi.gov.uk

REACH is a new European regime for the regulation of chemicals, for which HSE will be the Competent Authority (CA), aimed at ensuring a high level of protection for human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. Once fully operational the CA, in addition to providing the helpdesk, will monitor compliance, evaluate substances of concern, as well as taking regulatory action as appropriate, coordinate UK enforcement of the regulations.

The CA will work closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Environment agency, the devolved administrations and other government departments and liaise with the new European Chemicals Agency in Helsinki.

REACH is expected to undergo its second reading in the European Parliament this autumn and could enter into force as early as April 2007.The Regulation aims to address a number of serious short-comings in the current legislation. These include: the lack of available information on risks to human health and the environment for the majority of chemical substances on the EU market; the slow and resource-intensive nature of the current system; transferring the responsibility for the assessment of chemicals from the regulatory authorities to industry; and the distortions of the internal market inherent in the current fragmented legislative regime.

The regulation will require Member States to set up competent authorities to fulfil a number of tasks including:

Provide a Helpdesk for (national) duty holders and other stakeholders under REACH,
enforce compliance with Registration, at least reactively in response to whistle-blowing,
evaluate substances and suggest to relevant EU REACH committees appropriate regulatory consequences (eg Classification & Labelling, restrictions on use).
Nominate candidates to sit on the various EU REACH decision-making committees and
provide support for such people in their performing of such roles
Liaise as appropriate with relevant enforcing organisations in relationto "downstream" responsibilities under REACH, eg the implementation by users of the risk management measures designated by suppliers;
the adherence to restrictions or Authorisation

BUNCEFIELD JOINT TASK GROUP CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

A joint Industry and COMAH Competent Authority (CA) Task Group today called for industry to take immediate measures to implement eight key action points at major petroleum storage facilities. The actions to further improve safety and environmental standards can be found in the Buncefield Standards Task Group: Initial Report at: www.hse.gov.uk/comah/alert.htm

The actions, provide a significant challenge to industry, and are in response to findings contained in the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board's (MIIB) initial report published in July. These recommendations, based on the latest information available, are believed to be precautionary and prudent to offer worthwhile additional public and environmental protection.

The actions relate to:

Pipeline transfers;
Tank overfill prevention, operating safety margins and level alarms;
Fire safe shut-off valves and remotely operated shut off valves;
Containment, bunds and other measures; and
Shift handover.

The CA are also reviewing the emerging outcomes from the safety and environmental reviews of fuel depots carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Environment Agency (EA) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) earlier this year. The CA will report their findings later this year. These may well include the need for industry to take further measures.

The Task Group recommends and the CA requires sites that have bulk tanks storing petroleum that could be overfilled leading to a significant vapour cloud to take immediate action. These sites will now have to implement the recommendations by the deadlines set out in the report. Industry representatives have agreed to complete them and the CA will be monitoring industry progress closely to ensure the enhanced safety standards are introduced on time.

Under the CA's direction, the Task Group set out to undertake a comprehensive and thorough review of facilities like Buncefield to ensure they operate correctly. The actions detailed above are the first results of this work. The Task Group will make final recommendations to industry aimed at enhancing safety and environmental standards by July 2007. The CA acknowledges the commitment industry members of the Task Group have shown. It is important that these changes to further improve safety are implemented by the deadlines stated.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF BS EN 62061 BEING HARMONISED WITH THE MACHNERY DIRECTIVE

Alhough it is all but identical to IEC 62061, BS EN 62061 (Safety of machinery, Functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems) is now harmonised to the Machinery Directive, which makes a subtle but important difference. While there is a fair chance that you might have read something about IEC 62061 in the last year or two, it is almost certain that you will not have seen anything about BS EN 62061:2005 (Safety of machinery, Functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems). While the two standards' numbers, names and texts are the same, there is a subtle difference that machine builders - and those modifying machinery - should be aware of.

It is widely appreciated today that new machinery for placing on the market in the European Union, and machinery that has been modified, needs to be CE marked. The key legal requirement for this is that the machinery must meet the essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs) of the Machinery Directive. Compliance with harmonised standards (ie Euronorms, or standards prefixed with EN) is not a legal requirement, but harmonised standards are considered to be 'best advice' documents and therefore offer machine builders an 'approved route' to meeting the EHSRs. If machinery is not constructed in accordance with the harmonised standards, it may be difficult (though not impossible) to demonstrate compliance with the EHSRs, should the need arise.

Contact Pilz to request more information about the EN 62061 and pr EN ISO 13849-1 training course, or visit the website at www.pilzsupport.co.uk

Pilz Automation Technology, Willow House, Medlicott Close, Corby, Northamptonshire

N18 9NF

Tel: 01536 460766 Fax: 01536 460866

Email: training@pilz.co.uk

AGE DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION COULD PROMPT INCREASE HEALTH CARE SUPPORT

It is expected that 68% of companies will invest more in healthcare to support an ageing workforce, according to latest research by health benefits provider HSA. The research, which was carried out amongst 697 HR professionals during July, aimed to explore what the key threats were to the future health of the UK workforce and found that 54% would have to invest more in stress prevention and 54% in physiotherapy as a result of an ageing workforce. The new regulations around age discrimination, which came into force on 1 October 2006, are designed to help ensure that people of all ages are given the same opportunities. It also means that individuals can choose to work beyond the current age of retirement, meaning that a larger number of older people could be in the workforce,comments Suzanne Clarkson, Head of Corporate Marketing at HSA. It is clear from our research that this could lead to a need to provide additional and lifestyle related health benefits to ensure that this age group remains healthy and at work.

On top of this, companies may actually need to introduce health benefits should they wish to retain people once they reach the current retirement age. Our survey amongst the working population found that only 15% of people definitely would choose to work later in life. However, this figure rose to 50% if people were offered healthcare benefits, further indicating the crucial role that health will play with regards to the future of the workforce,concludes Suzanne.

The survey also found the following results:

70% of those surveyed in the private sector thought that they would have to invest more in healthcare to support an older workforce
72% of companies with over 500 employees surveyed thought that they would have to invest more in healthcare due to an ageing workforce
39% would expect to invest more in increased provision to care for acute conditions such as cancer and heart disease
38% thought they would need to increase their healthcare benefits to support and ageing workforce

To download a free summary of the report findings, go to www.hsa.co.uk/corporate or email pr@hsa.co.uk

For further information on the range of corporate healthcare plans available from HSA, contact 0800 072 5850.

HSE STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF NUCLEAR INDUSTRY SAFETY STANDARDS FOLLOWING SELLAFIELD SENTENCING

British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited was fined £500,000 plus costs of over £67,000 after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety law. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the prosecution following the discovery in April 2005 of a large leak of highly radioactive liquid within Sellafield's Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP).

After the hearing at Carlisle Crown Court, Dr. Mike Weightman, HSE's Director of Nuclear Safety and HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, said, "Our extensive investigation into the events in THORP has shown that British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited fell significantly short of the required standards for a considerable period of time before the leak was discovered. Although we stress that there is no evidence of any harm to workers or the public, the leak being contained within a stainless steel lined, heavily shielded cell, there had been a significant prolonged reduction in attention to the high standards demanded, something we are not prepared to tolerate.

THORP was Sellafield's flagship plant and built to high standards. It must also be operated, maintained and managed to the high standards we insist on, and the public have a right to expect from the nuclear industry. "For the wider nuclear industry, our message is clear: high standards are demanded of the nuclear industry, this means continued vigilance and close attention to maintaining all the multiple physical and administrative barriers put in place to protect people and society from highly radioactive material.

"It is not acceptable to allow any of these barriers to degrade and weaken, relying on the existence of other barriers to secure continued protection. Industry must continue to embrace high standards of design, construction, operation and maintenance and vigorously strive to maintain them at all times."

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