2011 saw some major developments for the world of workplace compliance, with the publication of Professor Lofstedt’s report “Reclaiming Health and Safety for All”, being possibly the most significant.
Other important events in 2011 included the scrapping of the compulsory retirement age, the Red Tape Challenge, changes at the Health and Safety Executive, the reinstatement of Lord Young as government advisor on health and safety, and the creation of a consultant’s register.
It should not be forgotten that 2011 has been a year in which the number of deaths caused by workplace accidents has increased. Hopefully, next year will see a return to the trend of a continuing fall in the number of workplace fatalities.
So what does 2012, the year of the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, have in store? Here’s a selection of events to look out for:
- Changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Under amendments due to come into force in April, the period for reporting accidents to employees will be extended from over three days, to over seven days. Employers will still be obliged to keep their own records of over three day injuries.
- New Control of Asbestos Regulations. The European Commission issued a judgement to the effect that the UK’s current regulations do not fully implement the relevant Directive. In the EC’s view, the omission of two terms in the Regulations has the effect of allowing too many types of work to be exempt from requirements concerning notification, medical examinations and record keeping. The effect of complying with the EC’s view will be to create a new category of work – ‘Notifiable Non-licensed Work’. Due to be in force by April.
- The introduction of the HSE’s Fee for Intervention scheme, also in April. Under the plan, the HSE will charge £124 for an hour of work where they identify a “material breach” during an inspection.
- The establishment from 1 January of a new challenge panel which will “allow businesses to get the decisions of health and safety inspectors overturned immediately if they have got it wrong”.
- Measures to begin the implementation of recommendations in the “Reclaiming Health and Safety for All” report. Consultation will get underway concerning the consolidation of large numbers of health and safety regulations. The government intends to have “removed the first rules from the statute book within a few months”. The HSE will also undertake a review of all of its Approved Codes of Practice.
Although this list isn’t exhaustive, these measures alone are enough to ensure that 2012 will be yet another momentous year for health and safety.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Santia Consulting Limited aims to be your partner of choice for health, safety & environmental risk management consultancy. We believe that our business is built on developing and maintaining valued relationships with you, our customers. We do this based on the belief that we deliver best in class solutions for all your risk management needs. Further details can be found here.
