A Brief History of Health and Safety in the Workplace

It is possible to trace the formation of a structured health and safety system back to 1833 when the Factories Act began. It was the duty of inspectors to help to prevent injuries to young children working in terrible conditions and also to try and prevent overworking.  In these early days the inspectors faced a lot of negative reactions from the politicians of the day. Despite the lack of support the Factories Act was able to bring in certain laws and regulations which helped the Act to be enforced.

The Factories Act 1833 also led to some lifesaving regulations being introduced some of which are still important in modern life. Two of these legislations include having guards on dangerous machinery to prevent injuries as well as the reporting of accidents. Between 1860 and 1871 the Factories Act was extended and covered almost all workplaces. As well as enforcing the new regulations and laws the 35 employees who worked as inspector or sub inspectors were also able to give advice to owners to help ensure the laws were understood and followed.

Women Join the Factory Inspectorate

Almost 60 years after the first Act was created the first women joined the team of inspectors. The Women’s Protective and Provident League were joined by other groups including the London’s Women’s Trade Council to campaign for the rights of females to be employed in this sector. In 1893 they were successful in their campaign and as a result two women, Amy Abraham and Mary Paterson were awarded positions in the inspectorate and were paid £200 per year helping to enforce the Truck Acts. Their roles included making sure that the health and safety laws and regulations were enforced as well as monitoring the hours of women’s employment.

Between 1833 and 1900 other Acts were formed such as:

• The Mines Act 1842 which was a result of the 1840 Royale Commission aimed at investigating the working conditions of miners.
• In 1895 the Quarry Inspectorate was formed to investigate and enforce health and safety at Quarries where steam machinery was being used. Two Acts were introduced, the Quarries Act and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation 1872 which led to the formation of the Quarry Inspectorate.

Between 1900 and 1974 there were further Acts created:

• Agriculture – The Agriculture (Safety Health and Welfare Provisions) Act 1956
• Nuclear Power – Nuclear Installations Act 1959

One of the Acts which is most commonly known was formed in 1974 which was the Health and Safety at Work Act.  Both employers and their employees were consulted in the formation of the Act which was considered to be a major move away from current legislations. This act led to the establishment of the Health and Safety Commission and in 1974 the Health and Safety Executive were also established. The HSE are still the major authority when it comes to enforcing health and safety today along with local authorities.

Since then there have been numerous changes and Acts introduced including but by no means limited to:

• Safety Representatives and Safety Commissions Regulations 1977
• Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1980
• Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980
• Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1991
• Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983
• Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1997
• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2007)
• Control of Artificial Optical Radiation at Work Regulations 2010

Health and Safety at work has a rich history which has evolved with changes in technology, industry and scientific advancement. To this very day the HSE is continuing to enforce the laws and regulations to try and prevent accidents and work related deaths.

Health and Safety consultants are able to assist you by providing you with accurate advice surrounding the numerous Acts now in place. For further assistance call 0800 1488 677 and speak to advisors about the many health and safety services built around the current laws and legislations.

Legislation – Quantity over Quality

Legislation Review – Do the Numbers Really Matter?

About ten years ago I recall having to draw up a register of health and safety legislation for a manufacturing site.  Despite it being quite a long list, the thing that struck me about it was how boring and generic most of the legislation sounded.  I recall the pre-6 pack, pre-COSHH days of the 1980s when there were scores of very specific and rather elderly bits of legislation, particularly for welfare arrangements in certain industries and this got me to thinking, is it really relevant how many bits of legislation there are, or is it better to concentrate on the intent behind the legislation – sort of “never mind the length, feel the width”?  Quality not quantity if you like to think of it that way.

With the recent publication of the Löfstedt Report – an independent review of health and safety legislation – the spotlight has once again been on how many pieces of legislation we now have on the statute book and the Department for Work and Pensions has seized on the idea that sweeping away 50% of this legislation will make a dramatic difference to small business.  I’m not so convinced.

When the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 came in as part of the “6-pack”, they revoked a myriad of old Welfare Orders, most of which had been around since the early twentieth century and were intended for specific industries.  Let’s examine one of them – the gloriously named “Herring Curing (Norfolk and Suffolk) Welfare Order 1920”.  Apparently during the autumn herring season some one hundred years ago, the population of Great Yarmouth could be increased by around 10,000 people, many of whom were women working 12-15 hours a day out in the open on the quayside, gutting and packing up to 800,000 fish daily.  Sadly I cannot find a copy of the text of this venerable Order but I vaguely recall it had requirements like the provision of open fronted shelters (possibly with wooden seats) for the workers to take their breaks in.  It might have been this Order or another similar one that required the employers to provide wooden clogs for the workers – anyway you get the idea!

The 1992 Welfare Regulations swept away over 30 Orders like this one.  Did this revolutionise small business?  Did all those East Anglian herring curers (assuming there were any left!) say “thank goodness, now we can rip down all those wooden shelters we had to put up at huge expense and for goodness sake cancel next week’s clog order!”  Of course not, because this isn’t about the numbers of rules and regulations, it’s about the intent behind them.

So back to the present day then and the Government’s rather lop-sided focus on the amount of legislation we have.  They seem to have got stuck on this 50% reduction figure, most recently mentioned by the Minister for work and pensions Chris Grayling in DWP Parliamentary questions this week.  In contrast, Professor Löfstedt in his report suggested that the number of regulations might be reduced by about 35%.  How is this reduction – whatever figure it actually is – to be achieved then, since apparently it’s such a significant issue for business?

Firstly, Professor Löfstedt suggested that five (yes just five) piece of legislation could be done away with altogether as they were either no longer needed or were duplicated elsewhere.  All those small businesses using tower cranes or celluloid and cinematograph film can cheer right now.

Secondly, he suggested that some sector specific legislation could be combined and simplified.  Annex D to his report lists over 75 pieces of legislation that could be subject to this process.  The sectors and areas involved?  Mining, Explosives, Biocidal Products, Genetically Modified Organisms and Petroleum Spirit.  Not exactly earth-shaking for most small businesses is it?

Finally HSE has recently started a consultation on the removal of seven out-dated statutory instruments.  All good stuff but will revoking the 1971 Anthrax Prevention Order really have that much effect on small business?

Despite all this the Government continues to trumpet the 50% reduction figure as though it will in one fell swoop remove 50% of the health and safety “burden” on business.  Well it won’t.  Certainly Löfstedt has also recommended a review of “the core set of health & safety regulations” to see if consolidation would provide “clarity and savings for businesses”.  However he does point out that “Any consolidation would not reduce health and safety outcomes because there would be no change in the duties.”  So it’s not about removing the burden of legislation at all, it’s about helping business to understand what they have to do.  Why doesn’t the Government just say so instead of peddling meaningless figures?

Last week Professor Löfstedt himself commented that he was concerned his review could be mis-used and said that he had not called for a significant change in legal policy.  Meanwhile in the House of Commons, the Minister was saying “The Löfstedt report, —  recommends significant changes to our regulatory regime”.  Well they can’t both be right!  So looking back at the Löfstedt report itself, here’s what the Professor said in the foreword; “I have concluded that, in general, there is no case for radically altering current health and safety legislation. There is a view across the board that the existing regulatory requirements are broadly right.”  Seems pretty clear to me, so why does the Government persist in spinning the report’s recommendations to suit what they want them to say?

The truth is that it’s not the actual burden of health and safety that is the issue, but rather the perception of that burden, which is magnified and propagated by any number of silly stories about “elf’n’safety” that you can read in the popular press just about every day.  Sadly, people really do believe the tosh they read in the papers and see on the TV.  Work at Height Regulations?  Oh yeah, the ones that banned ladders, right?  Makes you want to weep sometimes doesn’t it?  No wonder David Cameron thinks he has to deal with a “health and safety monster”.

How do we go about tackling this problem?  In the end it’s down to those of us who work in the health and safety profession to keep on telling people that ladders aren’t banned, that children can play conkers and climb trees and that risk assessment really isn’t all that difficult if you put your mind to it.  We may not change the DWP’s viewpoint, or their obsession with figures, but we can help our clients and our employers to make their way through the so-called maze of health and safety red tape and come out on the other side with an actual understanding of how to manage and control their own risk.  Perhaps then we can get people to see that health & safety can be an enabler for better business and not just a burden to overcome.

Guest Blog provided by Heather Collins CMIOSH at  HC Safety Services – Practical H&S risk assessment for business

Slips and Trips – Can You Prevent Them?

Sometimes people slip over by complete accident, it happens every day. However, when it comes to the workplace many owners think that slips and trips cannot be prevented but this is not the case. It your duty to make sure everything is done to reduce the likelihood of trips such as these, and by ignoring the problem you are opening yourself up to prosecution at the hands of the health and safety executive.

During 2009 there were a recorded 10,000 serious injuries caused by slipping over in the workplace and a tragic 4 fatalities.  This loss of lives could have been avoided and has resulted in the loves of their friends and families being affected forever. The injuries also can cause problems for families and the injured person, it also can cost the economy die to all of the extra days off work at a cost of approximately £800,000 000 per year.

Are Slips Mentioned in the Law?

There are a few Acts and Regulations which are relating to slips and trips in the workplace. By failing to meet these you are breaking the law and can be fined in a court of law. The relating regulations are named in the:

• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
• The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

What Causes Slips?

There are several ways that slips can be triggered in the workplace. The most common of these are caused by:

• Inadequate footwear

When you employee people it is important that your employees where suitable footwear. You can also help to reduce the risks of others falling in your premises by making sure the floors are keep clean and dry. In situations where it is difficult to maintain a dry or clean floor anti slip footwear should be worn.

• People

Encouraging a positive reaction to health and safety in the workplace is a great way of keeping the environment safe. Try and promote your employees to sort out any problems they may see such as spillages and obstacles.

• The environment

When it comes to workplace slips and trips you need to think of the environment. Do you have good enough lighting? Does the weather cause problems, does the area have high condensation risks or are the noise levels safe?

• The type of floor

Flooring plays a big part in preventing trips.  The flooring needs to be properly laid and then well maintained to make sure it doesn’t pose any risks. The floor needs to be kept clean and dry were possible and in areas of wetness suitable flooring needs to be laid combined with suitable shoes.

• Cleaning

When it comes to cleaning you need to have a good management in system to prevent accidents. A suitable method of cleaning, the correct use of products and equipment need to be used and the process should be supervised and carried out at a suitable time. Signs are not able to prevent accidents but should be used to warn others of the possible dangers

• Obstacles

Obstacles are a common cause of slips and are responsible for approximately 50% of all these types of accidents. Poor housekeeping is a high contributing factor and therefore needs to be well managed to reduce the risks. Encouraging your workers to be responsible for their own areas is also advised and act when noticing problems in any area of the workplace.

Find out more about slips and falls and how to maintain a safe workplace by contacting health and safety consultants. Call 0800 1488 677 to find out how health and safety services can help you to prevent accidents such as slips and trips.

Four Workers Killed in Birmingham Alone

Health and Safety Services Can Save Lives. Fact!

Health and safety services are there for businesses to use. The legislations surrounding health and safety can be confusing and time consuming and unfortunately many businesses find they are taken to court and prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for breaching one or more of the many regulations and laws designed to protect the lives of others.

Four Workers Killed in Birmingham Alone

During the last twelve months a total of four people died in the workplace in Birmingham and the Black Country. In addition to the deaths a further 900 were seriously harmed in accidents which could have been avoided.  The Health and Safety Executive have called out to employers warning them to be vigilant when it comes to the health and safety of others.  The fresh warning comes at the start of the New Year after the numbers increased during 2010/2011.

Legal Responsibilities Cannot Be Ignored

As an employee it is essential to remember that it is their legal duty to do all that is possible to create a safe environment in the workplace.  Health and safety services can help you to stay within the law by choosing to gain assistance from experts who can explain what is expected by the HSE. Combine this knowledge with training, auditing and risk assessments and your workplace can become safer while you follow the laws regarding what is expected.

High Number of Deaths Recorded

The total statistics for Great Britain are workplace deaths 171 and 24,700 major injuries.  This is an increase on the previous year and goes to show that not everyone is following the legislations. Taking risks has resulted in many people suffering and the HSE has prosecuted many firms throughout the year for their lapses in health and safety.

Use Consultants to Make Your Policies Fall in Line with the Law

The Health and Safety Consultants are able to provide multiple services which can help prevent tragic and unnecessary accidents. The experts and the health and safety services are designed to teach you, or provide a service, which can potentially save lives and reduce the number of accidents in the workplace through methods which meet the demands of the regulations.

Whether your business is considered to be high risk or not the laws remain the same and need to be adhered to. Failing to do so can cost your company and yourself hundreds and thousands, could mean closing doors and more importantly can result in others being seriously injured or to lose their lives when trying to earn a living.

Multiple Services Available

Use the health and safety services to create procedures and policies within your business which work and protect everyone. Some of the services on offer include:

• Health and Safety Audits
• Fire Risk Assessments
• Asbestos Surveys
• Construction Safety Advisory Services
• Competent Person
• Document Writing

To find out more about what is available for businesses in Great Britain contact the expert consultants who are ready to assist you. Telephone 0800 1488 677 to speak to a consultant who can help.

David Cameron Speaks Out about Health and Safety Changes

David Cameron has spoken to the Health and Safety Executive asking them to bring forward the proposed changes in Health and Safety legislation. The Prime Minister, who called Health and Safety “a monster”, wants the new methods of monitoring, recording and maintaining health and safety in the workplace as early as the end of 2012. By doing so he is hoping to bring an end to the confusion and problems caused by the extensive paperwork and help businesses deal with the red tape in a more productive manner.

Compensations fears a major concern according to David Cameron

One of the main reasons for bringing in the simpler rules is to help businesses to overcome their fear of health and safety. Many firms find it a daunting task to keep up with paper work and ensure that they maintain a safe environment for their workers. Many self-employed people find it hard to get the head around the duties and regulations which are relevant to them, and so the self-employed are likely to be taken out of the whole equation.

The Prime Minister put heavy focus on the fact that businesses are worried about being sued in this compensation seeking era. As it stands lawyers’ fees are carefully controlled in traffic accident claims where the compensation is less than £10,000. In the near future it is likely that this will be further increased to cover claims worth £25,000 and will also include any employees seeking compensation from their employers.

Inappropriate handling of vital services designed to protect lives

Not everyone approves of the way that David Cameron went about discussing the problems, especially when using the term ‘monster’.  The head of policy and public affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Richard Jones spoke about the way that the government has exaggerated the fear of being sued which is being encouraged through marketing.

Mr Jones stated that the reason there is legislation is to protect workers from injuries and death on the workplace, and therefore the term ‘monster’ is unfair.  The caps are in place on the amount of fees so that defendants do not need to concern themselves too much with the costs which may be involved, therefore reducing the fear.

Health and Safety Services still available to those confused about current legislations

Until the time when the new legislations come in to practice it is vital that businesses maintain their current policies and follow the rules and laws in place to protect employees and employers alike. Health and Safety services will be able to help by offering complete health and safety audits and other necessary services which will highlight problems which are not being correctly addressed.

Veritas Consulting health and safety consultants will also be able to provide training and help businesses understand, interpret and apply the new legislation once they have been disclosed.  Call 0800 1488 677 to find out more about audits, training and the various health and safety services available to businesses of all sizes.

340 Bristol, Bath and Gloucester Workers Are Seriously Injured

Warning for Employers from the Health and Safety Executive

Statistics collected from the local authorities in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bristol show that during last year there were 340 serious injuries caused by accidents in the workplace. These shockingly high statistics have resulted in the Health and Safety Executive calling for employers to pay closer attention to health and safety in the form of a warning.

The high level of injuries combined with the increased amount of workplace deaths during 2010/2011 resulted in the fresh warning about the legal responsibilities which lie with employers in Great Britain. In total there were 171 deaths in Britain alone, and 24,700 serious injuries, 342 of which happened in Bristol, the South of Gloucester and Bath. The HSE are hoping that during 2012 the employers will work hard to improve the situation and make their health and safety procedures a top priority.

Getting Help to Prevent Accidents

The statistics show that in Great Britain one out of every million workers lost their lives in the workplace over a twelve month period. Half of the total 171 deaths happened in the industries which are known to be of high risk to workers. The construction industry saw 50 deaths, agriculture saw 34 deaths and there were also 9 deaths in the waste and recycling industries.

Health and Safety Consultants can be contacted by any employers who are looking at ways to help reduce the amount of accidents and lower the risk of loss of life within their workplace. There are many different services available depending on the sector the company is in. You can request specialist construction health and safety services and even help with office workplace safety.

Lives Need Protecting, and it is Your Responsibility as an Employer

Speaking about the statistics Nigel Long, a Health and Safety Executive Principal Inspector, stated that employers will need to focus their attention on the potential dangers which occur in their workplace. By spending their time on these real dangers and reducing the work carried out on some of the more trivial risks and the paperwork the number of accidents could be reduced.

Mr Long did mention the fact that Great Britain does have one of the lowest rates of deaths in the workplace in Europe; however one loss of life is too many. Businesses need to make sure that they are following the laws and regulations to cut down the amount of deaths in the next 12 months.

Contact the Professionals

If you are looking to improve the conditions and reduce risks within your company contact the Health and Safety Consultants for assistance. A simple phone call can help to establish what is needed to be done, whether it is a full Health and Safety Audit or training courses for you and your employees.

To speak to an advisor call 0800 1488 677, the experts will be able to give you an idea of the relevant health and safety services which are available. Make 2012 the safest year yet.

Risk Assessments – Are You Doing them Right?

Many businesses are using health and safety consultants to teach them how to perform the required, adequate risk assessments in everyday operations. There are all sorts of occasions in the workplace which demand the use of risk assessments. By failing to perform these vital taks you are putting your employees and possibly the public at risk of harm and opening yourself up to prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive.

Points to Consider When Creating a Risk Assessment

There are several questions you need to ask when creating a risk assessment.  These include looking for potential dangers in the workplace and who is at risk from harm from these dangers.  You will also need to evaluate any risks and come up with ways of controlling these risks, which also includes any controls which are already in place.

The risk assessments will need to be recorded and kept for future reference.  You will also need to frequently review them and make changes when necessary.  The best times to perform a review are when any new changes are brought into the workplace. This may involve new equipment or methods of work which were not previously taken into account. Should any incidents occur it is also wise to go over the assessment and see how similar incidents could have been avoided and so bring in new control measures.

Method Statements

Although method statements are not required by law they are extremely useful when it comes to health and safety in the workplace, especially the construction industry. A method statement is different to risk assessments; the statement states a sequence explaining how the job needs to be carried out to reduce any risks which have been described in the risk assessment. With a method statement you are able to carefully plan any work and make sure you have in place all the resources necessary.

Receive the Proper Training

One of the health and safety services provided by Veritas Consulting involves risk assessments and training.  Although assessments can be performed without professional assistance it is useful to make sure you are fully up to date with all the laws and regulations in your industry, as well as learning how to create adequate assessments and the skills required for method statements.

Health and safety consultants are able to teach you these skills, or perhaps perform the tasks on your behalf. If you are concerned about the strength of your health and safety skills it can be extremely beneficial to use the expertise of health and safety consultants with extensive knowledge and experience in this field.

By making sure that your workplace is safe you can protect your workers and the public from harm. Call 0800 1488 677 to discuss these services in greater detail.  You can show any inspectors that you are doing everything that is feasibly possibly to manage your work environment and reduce the risks faced each day in the workplace. By doing you may be able to potentially avoid prosecution should an incident arise where you can prove you did everything possible to follow the health and safety regulations and laws.