Mike Cross

1
The work of HSE in Scotland

• Mike Cross
• Director of Scotland and Northern England
• Field Operations Directorate

2
Smith Commission Next Steps

• the Scottish and UK Governments should work
  together to review the functions and operations
  of the Health and Safety Executive in Scotland
  and consider how the future requirements to best
  serve the people of Scotland could be delivered
  operationally whilst remaining within a reserved
  health and safety legislative framework.
• Steering group DWP, SG, Scotland Office and HSE
• Working group SG, HSE, LAs, DWP
• Review in 2 phases
• Phase 1 (by end of April 2015) will on the basis
  of evidence gathered and analysed, articulate
  the health and safety outcomes being sought in
  Scotland
• Phase 2 (by Autumn 2015) will develop and assess
  options for changes in the mix of interventions
  within the operational delivery landscape to
  improve health and safety.

3
Robens Report 1972

• Apathy is the greatest single contributing
  factor to accidents at work. This attitude will
  not be cured so long as people are encouraged to
  think that safety and health at work can be
  ensured by an ever-expanding body of legal
  regulations enforced by an ever-increasing army
  of inspectors.

4
Influences on health safety performance
5
Evidence

• Intrinsic risk/hazard
• Injury statistics
• Ill health
• Dangerous occurrences
• Complaints
• Other regulatory failures
• Professional judgements
• New research

6
Evidence-based strategies

• Clear definition of the problems
• Understanding of opportunities and barriers
• Clarity about objectives
• Using the right technique at the right time to
  maximise impact
• Reserving boots on the ground intervention for
  the right situations
• Being prepared to say no

7
Sector strategies

• Construction
• Waste and recycling
• Agriculture
• Manufacturing
• etc

8
Campaigns

• Targeted activities on a particular topic area,
  e.g legionella, LPG pipework, asbestos
• Mix of approaches publicity and advertising,
  guidance and inspection often deployed
  sequentially
• Stakeholders play a key role and we are mutually
  supportive
• Currently running Beware Asbestos

9
How HSE is organised
10
Robens on Inspection

• Inspection programmes should be oriented towards
  problemsthe activities of the inspectorates
  should be directed towards thoseareas where they
  are most needed and where they are likely to be
  most productive

11
Proactive Inspection

• Overall objective - to secure compliance with
  current requirements and promote improved
  standards of HS management.

Method Topics
Assess documents Risk profile
Interview people Matters of evident concern
Observe conditions Potential major concern
Sampling and testing Employee issues
12
Investigation

• Published Selection Criteria
• Gather and establish facts
• Identify immediate/underlying causes
• Prevent recurrence
• Identify possible breaches
• Take action