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Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 19:23

18.8.2011

Have your say on cost-recovery for health and safety failings

The first detailed look at how a new system of recovery of costs for official intervention in employers breaking health and safety laws has been published.

HSE has opened a three-month consultation on how 'fee for intervention' will operate, having already agreed with the Government the underlying principle.  The new scheme could apply from as early as April 2012. The deadline for input and comment from business is 14 October.

Under 'fee for intervention', costs would be recovered if, during an inspection or investigation, a material breach – a failure to adhere to health and safety law identified by an inspector as requiring formal action - is discovered.  Fees would apply up to the point where HSE’s intervention in supporting businesses in putting matters right has concluded.

Gordon MacDonald, HSE’s programme director, said:

"The Government has agreed that it is right that those who break the law should pay their fair share of the costs to put things right - and not the public purse.

"These proposals provide a further incentive for people to operate within the law, levelling the playing field between those who comply and those who don’t.  Compliant firms will not pay a penny in intervention fees.

"HSE already recovers its costs in a range of industries and we have considerable experience of making these schemes work".

Under the proposals, HSE will recover costs at current estimates of £133 per hour. Compliant businesses will not pay a penny.

To find out more, view the consultation document and have your say, using the following link:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd235.htm?ebul=vehicles/aug2011&cr=4

7.3.2011 Asbestos

CASA Safety Services are now a registered member of the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA)

7.3.2011 Consultants Register

Steve Armstrong – CFIOSH, DipRSA has has now been accepted onto the register.

Health and safety consultants are being invited to sign up to a new independent register from Monday 31 January, that is intended to become a new benchmark for standards in the profession.

The Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR) is being set up in response to recommendations in the Lord Young Government commissioned report ‘Common Sense Common Safety’, on the UK health and safety system.

It aims to increase business confidence in accessing good quality, proportionate and uncomplicated advice and also to address concerns that some employers - especially SMEs - can find it difficult to know how and where to get external health and safety advice.

OSHCR has been established by a number of professional bodies representing general safety and occupational health consultants across the UK, with support from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The register, which is voluntary, is open to individuals who provide commercial advice on general health and safety management issues and who have achieved at least one of the following:-

• Chartered status with IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health);

• CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health);

• REHIS (Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland) with health and safety qualifications

• Fellow status with IIRSM (International Institute of Risk and Safety Management) with degree level qualifications

• Member or Fellow status with BOHS (British Occupational Hygiene Society) Faculty of Occupational Hygiene

• Registered Member or Fellow status with IEHF (Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors).

In addition, all consultants wishing to join the register will be asked to declare that they will:

• Demonstrate adequate continuing professional development;

• Abide by their professional body's code of conduct;

• Provide sensible and proportionate advice; and

• Have professional indemnity insurance or equivalent to cover the nature of their duties.

The application process will include a check of an individual's membership status with the relevant professional body.

Speaking on behalf of all the organisations involved in developing OSHCR, HSE Chair Judith Hackitt said:

"There are already many very good health and safety consultants who give sensible and proportionate advice to employers, but there are also those who may overcomplicate health and safety, miss important hazards or contribute to misperceptions about what is really needed to protect people at work.”

"This register offers a level of assurance to businesses that those consultants on the register have met set standards within their professional body. It will be an independent way of demonstrating professional competence in occupational health and safety consultancy and should also encourage those who have not yet met these standards to do so."

For the clients and customers already using the services provided by Steve, you can be reassured that as a professional Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner with over 30 years of experience of providing health and safety support and training, you will always receive sensible and proportionate advice.
Customers wishing to find out more about the services provided by CASA Safety Training Services Ltd, and Steve Armstrong, please contact us direct to arrange a free no obligation meeting where we can explore your health and safety needs.