HEALTH AND SAFETY
EXECUTIVE News Release (C010:07) issued by The Government News
Network on 25 July 2007
As a part of the
Government's Better Regulation Agenda the Health and Safety
Commission (HSC) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have
initiated a dedicated project to help small and medium size
businesses (SMEs) to fulfil their health and safety requirements
as outlined by law. With this initiative HSE aims to reduce the
cost of risk assessment to most business by a third.
Speaking at an event that announced a number of government better
regulation initiatives HSC Chair Sir Bill Callaghan said,
"What has come to be known as 'elfandsafety' can be
a frustrating business. In part it's frustrating because so
many of the stories you hear are based on misinterpretations of
the law, or the misguided actions of a few individuals. In reality
much health and safety law is flexible, but it can be intimidating
if you are not sure what is required."
Building on HSE's sensible risk campaign Sir Bill announced
the launch of three more of HSE's example risk assessments to
help businesses. He continued, "We are saying you don't
need to overcomplicate things, keep your risk assessment fit for
purpose, make it a living document and act on it. Risk assessment
should be about what practical steps you need to take to protect
people, not paperwork for its own sake. By itself, filling in a
form never saved a life. It should be a means to an end - sensible
risk management."
HSE has been working closely with stakeholders to develop
industry-specific concise and practical example risk assessments
that will help businesses with the information they need to make
informed decisions, and make significant impact on the amount of
time and money they feel they need to spend managing the risks in
their workplaces. This project will help SMEs understand what a
'good enough' risk assessment looks like.
At the same event the Better Regulation Executive (BRE) launched
it's study of the cumulative impact of health and safety
regulation on low risk businesses which HSE will be supporting.
Notes to editors:
1. All businesses face requirements in law
to assess the health and safety risks in their workplace (from the
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations). Some
regulations outline specific risks they need to consider, such as
those faced by users of computers (Display Screen Equipment
Regulations); those from lifting and carrying things (Manual
Handling Regulations); and those from chemicals (Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations). All of these
requirements apply in some way in most businesses. A record of the
risk assessment must be written and kept under review.
2. HSE is targeting this initiative at the six sectors in the
economy that contain 70% of all businesses (Retail, Wholesale,
Hotel & Catering, Transport, Motor Trade, Property and
Business Services).
3. HSE has already published example assessments for an office, a
car repair garage, a warehouse and a contract bricklayer. Today
HSE launched further examples for a convenience store/newsagent,
an estate agent and a general office cleaning contractor. Example
assessments for dry cleaning, hairdressing, cold storage
warehousing and catering are planned for launch in November.
4. Examples on risk assessment can be viewed on the HSE website
http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/examples.htm
None of the example risk assessments is more than four pages long.
5. The HSC has overall responsibility for occupational health and
safety regulations in Great Britain. The Commission consists of 10
people nominated by bodies with an interest in workplace health
and safety. They are sponsored by the Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP). The DWP minister for occupational health and
safety is Lord McKenzie of Luton.
6. The HSE and Local Authorities are the enforcing authorities
that work in support of the Commission.
Public enquiries: HSE's InfoLine 0845 3450055
HSE
information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet http://www.hse.gov.uk/