Health and Safety Legislation Change to Focus Attention on High Risk Industries
From April 2013, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will cease automatic inspections of businesses considered to be “low risk,” such as shops and offices. The end of these routine inspections comes as part of an overall government plan to “cut red tape” for business.
From April 2013, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will cease automatic inspections of businesses considered to be “low risk,” such as shops and offices. The end of these routine inspections comes as part of an overall government plan to “cut red tape” for business.
The number of inspections by the HSE is expected to be reduced from 33,000 to 22,000 a year. Inspections will be concentrated on the areas of industry which carry the greatest risk to staff, contractors, customers and visitors – sectors such as construction or manufacturing. While proactive inspections are being limited, lower risk businesses are not exempt from making health and safety a priority in the workplace. If an accident occurs in a shop, office, pub or club, or if a member of staff makes a complaint to the HSE, the business will still face an inspection and/or fines.
Russell Barnard, Product Manager for SG World, a Crewe-based manufacturer of health and safety solutions and visitor and contractor management systems, said: “The main thing to remember about this change is that health and safety in the workplace remains a priority. For high risk organisations this is still business as usual – and it doesn’t mean anyone can relax their commitment to health and safety. No matter what industry, businesses still need to take care of the people on their premises or risk an inspection – or worse.”
The new legislation change will allow the HSE to focus their attention on the highest risk areas of business, carrying out over 400 inspections a week exactly where they are most needed. The HSE’s business plan for 2013 – 2015 shows they intend to concentrate inspections primarily on the construction, manufacturing and waste industries.
Further items of legislation are also due to be scrapped under the government’s drive to cut red tape. Many of the laws on the chopping block are specific to industries such as mining and quarrying, cinematography and docks and shipbuilding; or to laws which are outdated and no longer relevant. The legislation scrapping is part of the government’s “one in one out” rule, where new domestic regulations which impose costs on businesses are matched by deregulation that provides an equivalent saving.
The main areas of regulation which primarily affect businesses, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, PUWER (laws relating to maintaining work equipment in efficient working order and good repair) and LOLER (the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998), are expected to remain unchanged.
Lisa Robinson
SG World
Duchy Road
Crewe
CW1 6ND
Telephone: 01270 588211
Email: http://www.sgworld.com/contact-us.html
SG World (http://www.sgworld.com) supply innovative products to help businesses look after people, premises and property. Their services include advising businesses on contractor, visitor and staff booking-in procedures, and their products include ID cards and lanyards, health and safety documentation systems and cutting-edge visitor management software. Formed in 1968, SG World operates from its base in Crewe, Cheshire, and employs 150 staff in Crewe, London and Ireland.
