Health and Safety Technical Panel Update QED June 2007 Simon Morse
Introduction Period of change and challenge in Health and Safety Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities in partnership New Ways of Working
Revitalising Health and Safety Year 2000, the Health and Safety Commission launched its campaign to revitalise Occupational Health and Safety in great Britain via the Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond Targets under this new Revitalising Health and Safety strategy - 30% reduction in working days lost, 20% reduction in work related ill health and 10% reduction in rate of fatalities and major injuries by 2010 Mid point estimates showed that whilst some sectors, for example manufacturing were on course to meet these reductions others such as the service sector, which is predominantly enforced by LA s were not
FIT 3 - A new way of working FIT 3 Fit for work Fit for Life Fit for tomorrow Vehicle to achieve Revitalising targets April 2006 - All Local Authorities and the Health and Safety Executive in Wales sign up to FIT3 which is formalised via A Strategy for Improving Occupational Health and Safety in Wales Unique to Great Britain Disease Reduction Programme Injury Reduction programme Promotes and formalises partnership working Promotes engagement of all stakeholders Encourages targeted Topic based initiatives and projects at both a local and national level Targets finite resources at the issues that matter
FIT 3 Since April 2006 LA s and the HSE have been required to produce formal details of proposed contributions to the FIT 3 programme A number of methods have been used to identify which premises and which topic areas would be targeted Central Accident/ill health data Application of national risk based issues Local knowledge of problem areas
FIT3 work in Wales 06-07 Targeted inspections at catering and retail outlets which display high levels of slip accidents National Moving Goods Safely project with LA s and HSE jointly targeting the supply chain for furniture products from manufacturer to consumer looking at issues such as MSD and Workplace Transport Targeted hair salons and florists to advise on issues regarding prevention of occupational dermatitis Information packs/gloves distributed and presentations to students studying Hair and Beauty done at various training providers such as Coleg Gwent Visits and mail shots were made to businesses to advise of the requirement to effectively manage asbestos Care Home visits as part of Welsh Assembly led Campaign Welsh Backs 2006 carried out Joint visits with HSE to Royal Mail sorting offices undertaken
FIT3 work in Wales 06-07 (continued) Task Group led projects in addition to centrally led projects HOOF (Health on Open Farms) SW Wales Task Group and HSE Field Office in Carmarthen Workplace Transport project run by North Wales Task Group and HSE Field Office in Wrexham looking at safe vehicle movement on large distribution sites North Wales Task Group project looking at problem of Asthma in Bakeries SE Wales Task Group and Health and Safety Executive Field Office in Cardiff have designed project looking at Manual Handling problems in the Delivery of Drink Products to Public Houses SHAD s (Safety and Health Awareness Days) A HSE model which is now run in partnership between LA s and the HSE Many more examples exist.
New Ways of Working Innovative ideas and projects have been developed within Wales to work towards the Revitalising Targets Joint fatalities investigation team comprising HSE and LA inspectors North Wales shared complaints team Joint/flexible warranting Easier access to HSL resources and a Science and Technology budget Joint planning process between LA s and the HSE
Case Study - Drinks Delivery and Cellar Safety - A Partnership Approach Project Overview A new way of working Revitalising Health and Safety, Topic inspections, FIT3 (Fit for Work, Fit for Life, Fit for tomorrow) and A Strategy for improving Health and Safety in Wales Project Outline - An inspection based project, focusing predominantly but not exclusively on Manual Handling issues, assessing the delivery of drinks to Licensed premises The project group Blaenau Gwent CBC, Cardiff CC, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), industry and trade stakeholders
Why this project? Accident and injury rates - Musculoskeletal injuries are identified as one of the three key contributors to accident rates amongst Draymen and to cellar workers in the Licensed trade Industry culture Amongst Draymen and Cellar men there is an unwritten acceptance that they will experience musculoskeletal pain as a result of their work The existence of a natural meeting of Local Authority (LA) and HSE enforcement responsibility along a distinct supply chain
Project Aims and Objectives Aim To reduce the rates of injury and ill health from Manual Handling in Drinks deliveries and Licensed Premises Objectives Consider Health and Safety issues faced by Delivery companies and the licensed trade during the delivery of Drinks Assess current best practice and industry guidance Engage with major stakeholders and utilise their existing expertise Utilise Ergonomists, Occupational Health Inspectors and Mechanical specialists in the pursuit of solutions to identified problems Work in partnership within LA s the HSE and industry to promote consistency, good practice and awareness To agree enforceable benchmark standards as part of a package which could be rolled out Nationally for use by Local Authorities
Phase 1 Identification of existing Legislation and guidance Production of standard inspection pack Identification of Licensed premises to be targeted in the Blaenau Gwent CBC and Cardiff CC locality Identification of target delivery companies serving Licensed premises in these areas Safety and Health Awareness Day to introduce the project was run to which all target premises and delivery companies were invited Pre-visit Self Assessment Questionnaires sent to target premises Joint visits by LA and HSE officers undertaken at target premises during deliveries
Project Methodology Phase 1 - Continued Following assessment of visits, and in accordance with existing legislative requirements Benchmark standards were designed for both Drinks delivery companies and Licensed premises Each aspect of Benchmark standards graded with a Risk Control Indicator score (1-4 with 1 being full compliance and 4 no compliance) which will allow future evaluation of improvements made following these interventions Standard Improvement Notices designed Industry stakeholders advised of Benchmark Standards and advised that future visits would be judged against these
Project Findings Phase 1 Inadequate Management Control with poorly qualified managers and licensees Poor levels of Training and Skills, with almost 50% of Licensed premises having staff engaged in the movement of Drink products untrained in moving and handling skills Poorly focused Generic Assessments with over 40% of premises having no site specific assessments and over 50% having no specific Manual Handling Assessments Failure to embrace use of Mechanical Aids and Personal Protective Equipment with over 60% of premises failing to provide safety footwear Poor condition, design and layout of delivery route Poorly designed cellars Seasonal/Local event Capacity issues
Phase 2 Project pilot involving the Vale of Glamorgan CBC and Monmouthshire CC Inspections primarily undertaken during the period of Welsh Backs campaign during October 2006 Pilot tested documentation and benchmark standards A significant amount of formal action in the form of Letters and Improvement notices was taken during this phase of the project
Phase 3 Project launched on an All Wales basis in March 2007 at Enforcement Liaison Conference at which all Welsh LA s and Welsh HSE inspectors were in attendance LA s presented with an off the shelf package, which included standard aide memoirs, benchmark standards in addition to guidance documents and information leaflets to be distributed to all Licensed premises HSE inspectors in continued support of the project are targeting smaller delivery companies with a view to cascading best practice standards agreed with larger companies
Practical Solutions Larger delivery companies have begun to phase out job and finish The frequency of deliveries has increased leading to improved stock control in cellars and reductions in overall loads to be moved by draymen Delivery companies have ordering process in order to aid improved dray layout The project team have assisted Dave Snowden (Ex British Olympic Weightlifter) in the production of an interactive training DVD on Safe Manual Handling in Licensed premises to help bridge the skills gap Improved consultation links within LA s such as with planning departments regarding the design and layout of Cellars and delivery routes Innovative design ideas have been put in place alongside many site specific solutions
Summary The project has been met with almost unanimous approval within the industry, who have appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the direction in which Health and Safety in their sector is moving The Drinks Industry and even more so the Licensed Trade appreciate the greater consistency a project such as this has brought Drinks delivery companies feel not only has there been an increased awareness and understanding of Health and Safety issues amongst their staff but also importantly amongst the Licensed Trade whose premises they deliver into Interactive Training DVD offers a solution to a significant knowledge gap The project has introduced practical solutions which can be utilised across the industry and country as a whole The project has offered LA s and the HSE an opportunity to make more effective use of finite resources and to increase their own skill and knowledge base through the sharing of ideas and expertise The project allows significant contribution to the FIT3 programme and the All Wales Strategy for Improving Health and Safety in Wales
FIT 3 in Wales 2007-2008 Further Topic based interventions and projects in support of Injury Reduction Programme and Disease Reduction programme, examples of which are: SW Wales project looking at Manual Handling in the supply chain of building material from quarry to consumer and all points between An enforcement phase of the Asbestos Management campaign started in 06-07 Dermatitis in Catering campaign Ladders Week Visits to Pubs and Clubs to assess dangers of loud music and introducing the Control of Noise at Work Regulations which come into force in April 08 LA s across Wales utilising the pack designed by the SE Wales Task Group looking at Manual Handling in Drinks Delivery and cellar work Various SHAD s planned across Wales
H&S Technical Panel Work plan 07-08 Support for Regional Task Groups to achieve FIT3 targets Performance Indicators (Best Practice Standards) LAC 67/1 (rev 4) New Section 18 guidance Flexible warranting Extension of Fatalities investigation team Improved planning process between LA s and the HSE
Conclusion Innovative ideas to further improve the quality and efficiency of what we do are constantly evolving In Wales there is huge commitment to the work set out in the FIT3 programme Health and Safety enforcement due to the necessary changes in the way we work means we are currently on a very Steep learning Curve and 2007-2008 will be no different
Thank You