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Industrialsafetytalk: Health and Safety Legislation
News Release from: HSE Health and Safety Executive
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 01 October 2004
HSC and HSE consult on interventions
policy
The Health and Safety Commission is seeking views on the methods used by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities to influence health and safety standards in the workplace.
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is publishing an online consultative document discussing the methods used by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities to influence health and safety standards in the workplace The consultative document addresses one of the main themes in the HSC's Strategy for workplace health and safety, 'focussing on our core business and the right interventions where we are best placed to reduce workplace injury and ill health'
Two key elements of this theme are the development of an 'interventions strategy' (setting out the main techniques that we use as regulators) and 'being clear about our priorities'.
The document, 'Regulation and recognition - towards good performance in health and safety, identifies 13 'intervention techniques' ranging from the traditional ones of inspection and investigation through to newer methods such as partnership working and sector-wide initiatives.
It examines the value of each of these techniques and seeks views as to which ones the HSE and local authorities are best placed to pursue with the resources at their disposal.
Announcing the consultation, Bill Callaghan, chair of HSC said: "This is an important consultation.
"We are always going to have finite resources, so we have to make choices and be clear about our priorities.
"We believe that decisions affecting our future direction and priorities are best made when based on a combination of reliable research evidence and the considered opinion of those involved.
"That's why we need the views of employers, workers, their representative organisations, professional and trade bodies and other interested parties as to which technique we should use where, and what to give priority to so that we make the greatest impact".
The document also examines the concept of regulators recognising good performance.
Bill Callaghan continued: "In terms of inspection, we've always targeted our resources towards those where risks have been poorly managed.
"This means that there is less proactive intervention with better performers.
"Such targeting is necessary for using our resources most effectively.
"But should we be more transparent about these judgements so that firms can help themselves to be recognised as good performers, allowing us to further target our efforts to where they are most needed, for example, protecting vulnerable groups such as migrant workers? "Should we give public recognition for good practice and performance? "These are important questions on which we need your comments".
The full text of the consultation document can be viewed or downloaded from the 'Your views' section of the HSE's website.
Comments on the proposals can be sent using the electronic comment form on the consultation webpage or by email using the address given on the HSE's website.
Those wishing to make a hard copy return should refer to the appendix at the end of the document.
All comments should be received by Friday 24 December 2004.
Note that by 'interventions' the HSC means all the available methods and techniques used to influence behavioural change in managing or undertaking work, so as to improve standards of health and safety.
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