United Kingdom
Health and safety strategy
11.1 For the first time, a series of heath and safety at work targets has been set by the HSC. By 2010, the number of working days lost from work related injury and ill health should be reduced by 30%, the incidence of work related ill health reduced by 20%, and the rate of fatal and major injury accidents by 10%. Half of these improvements should be met by 2004. “Revitalising Health and Safety” describes the Government’s new strategy which is supported by a 44-point action plan of measures. These include more stringent penalties for non-compliance with health and safety legislation (prison sentences available for most offences and maximum fines in the magistrates’ court increased to £20,000) and the possible introduction of innovative penalties (fines linked to turnover, managers suspended without pay, penalty points). Legislation and a code of practice will be introduced that will assign health and safety responsibilities to a named director or other person with similar status and each year an annual report will be published “naming and shaming” those companies convicted of offences. A number of specific areas are targeted, including raising awareness of the high cost of health and safety failures to business, small firms, occupational health, education as part of the National Curriculum, workplace training and the integration of safety standards into public procurement decisions. (HSE News Release, 7 June 2000)
Railway safety
11.2 Proposals to amend three sets of railway safety regulations have been issued by the HSC. The Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 would replace the Railways (Safety Case) Regulations 1994 and amend the Railway Safety (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1997 and the Railway Safety Regulations 1999. New measures would be introduced to implement some of the recommendations of the DETR’s review following the Ladbroke Grove accident and the Uff Inquiry into the Southall train crash. In particular, responsibility for accepting train and station operators’ safety cases would be transferred to the HSE, and safety cases and safety management systems would be independently assessed and audited.(HSE, May 2000)
Occupational exposure limits
11.3 The HSC has published two consultative documents on proposed changes to the approved list of occupational exposure limits (OELs) relating to potentially harmful substances in the workplace. Such substances are subject to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH) which require employers to prevent, or if this is not reasonably practicable, adequately control employees’ exposure to hazardous substances. To help protect workers against ill-health, the HSC has set two types of occupational exposure limits: maximum exposure limits and occupational exposure standards. The first consultative document contains proposals for the control of fifteen substances including flour dust, hydrogen sulphide, chlorobenzene, chloroethane, manganese and its inorganic compounds, triethylamine and manganese fume. The second puts forward proposed occupational exposure standards for a further 29 substances. Both sets of proposals will implement the provisions of the EC Directive establishing a first list of indicative occupational exposure limit values (2000/39/EC) (see paragraph 11.9). If approved, the changes contained in the document will come into force on the publication of “EH40: Occupational Exposure Limits” early in 2001. (HSE News Releases, 16 May and 7 June 2000)
Management of health and safety
11.4 The HSC has issued an Approved Code of Practice and guidance to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This guidance updates the 1992 Approved Code of Practice and guidance to reflect changes to the Regulations, most notably concerning new and expectant mothers, young persons and fire precautions. The new Code makes specific reference to managers needing to be aware of relevant legislation and to be competent to manage health and safety effectively. The guidance also stipulates that all employees, including senior management need to receive relevant health and safety training.(HSC, May 2000)
Occupational stress
11.5 Management practice standards for controlling the causes of workplace stress are to be developed by the HSE as part of a programme to tackle the problem of occupational stress. A discussion document, “Managing Stress at Work”, published last year and the results of research have led the HSE to conclude that work related stress is a serious problem and a health and safety issue that can be partly addressed through the application of health and safety legislation. The management practice standards would be used to assess employers’ performance in this area. Other aspects of the programme will be to increase employers’ awareness of this problem and to train health and safety inspectors to take account of occupational stress in their routine work.(HSE News Release, 15 June 2000)
Ventilation
11.6 The importance of good ventilation in the workplace and the role this can play in controlling exposure to hazardous substances are the subject of new HSE guidance “General Ventilation in the Workplace”. Details of general ventilation standards are provided and the factors to be considered when deciding on the appropriate fresh air supply rate identified. Insufficient ventilation can lead to a range of work-related health problems.(HSE News Release, 21 June 2000)
Lift truck operators
11.7 A new standard test has been introduced to validate training for lift truck operators, developed by accrediting bodies and the Joint Industry Council for Lift Truck Operations. The test is a practical and theoretical assessment of the skills and knowledge acquired during training for the safe and effective use of lift trucks. It applies to the users of industrial counterbalance and reach trucks and has three elements, including a theoretical test, a pre-use check of the vehicle and a practical test including laden and unladen manoeuvring, stacking and de-stacking within an aisle and correct parking procedures.(HSE News Release, 13 April 2000)
Chainsaws
11.8 Revised guidance aimed at users of chainsaws at work has been issued by the HSE. “Chainsaws at Work” sets out practical measures to be followed by employers, the self-employed and those in control of work equipment when work involves the use of a chainsaw. Recent legislative changes on young people and work equipment are taken into account in the revised guidance. (HSE, April 2000)
European Union
Chemical agents
11.9 Directive 2000/39/EC establishes a first list of indicative occupational exposure limit values in implementation of the Directive on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (98/24/EC). Indicative occupational exposure limit values are set for 63 chemical agents and Member States must implement national occupational exposure limit values. The Directive must be implemented by the end of 2001. In the UK, the HSE is currently consulting on such measures (see paragraph 11.3).(OJ L142, 16 June 2000)
