June 2009

Continuing to support the working at height safety initiative, Facelift Access Hire is offering a free full colour safety poster. The poster is designed to be a constant and professional reminder of how to work safely at height. It incorporates the eight key elements which employers and employees need to consider when setting up their access machinery. Simple display pictures and short sharp instructions really get the message across, and it’s ideal for use in site offices and more. You can either download it from the website at www.facelift.co.uk and use the health and safety navigation button on the left of the page, or email the training department at trainingposters@facelift.co.uk.

Make sure you provide your full postal address and the number of posters you require, these will then be mailed out to you free of charge. If you have any other questions or require further information you can contact the training department on 0800 072 55 72 or visit www.facelift.co.uk

If you have any other questions or require further information you can contact the training department on 0800 072 55 72 or visit www.facelift.co.uk

December 2008

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that the evidence is clear that where businesses have good workforce involvement, they achieve better performance in health and safety and better productivity because staff are motivated and feel engaged in the organisation.

To assist organisations in the changing world of work, the HSE has launched a new set of guidance on consulting and involving the workforce. This includes a completely new good practice guide that draws upon the established legislation and applies this to today’s workplaces through a series of good practice tips and new case studies.

Launched in October at the HSE Worker Involvement Conference, the publications aim to reinvigorate and emphasise the importance of staff participation in managing health and safety issues.

Better guidance for employers

The new good practice guidance ‘Involving your workforce in health and safety: Good practice guidance for all workplaces’ will help employers in their duty to consult and involve their workforce on health and safety matters. The guide concentrates on good practice based on the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 (as amended) and the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 (as amended). The guide is designed to distinguish different types of information with references to the regulations colour coded. It was developed in partnership with key stakeholders in response to the need for better guidance for employers on how to consult. A web-version of the good practice guidance is available at the HSE website www.hse.gov.uk/involvement/index.htm along with detail on some of the topics (for example safety committees).

Consulting with employees

Two free leaflets were also launched - ‘Involving your workers in health and safety: A guide for small businesses’ aimed mainly at employers in workplaces with fewer than 25 employees and where it is normally practical for employers to consult with employees directly. In addition, another called ‘Consulting employees on health and safety – a brief guide to the law’. This leaflet provides an overview of employers’ duties to consult with their employees or their representatives on health and safety matters, providing a brief overview of the legal requirements.

Finally, the revised legal series ‘Consulting workers on health and safety’ publication gives the law and guidance on the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations (1977) and the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations (1996). It explains the relationship between the two sets of regulations and how they affect the employer and their workforce and how in some organisations the employer may need to consult under both sets of regulations. The publication contains revises, and brings up-to-date the guidance given in earlier once separate versions and contains additional information including an overview of the specific requirements to consult employees, or their health and safety representatives on other health and safety legislation which applies to specific industries. The law has not changed.

Worker in involvement

Involvement of the workforce is a principle which applies to every organisation irrespective of size, representation, structure or any other factor, so the HSE publications should apply to the majority of workplaces.

Statistics from HSE’s latest 2007 Fit3 survey show that nine out of ten employers state that their workers are involved in health and safety management through either a formal or an informal system. However, when asked for further information only about four in ten employers have regular meetings with workers, designated health and safety representatives or a health and safety committee. So, whilst the majority of employers report they involve their workers, only a much smaller number appear to have practices that approach those considered good practice by HSE. There is still plenty of room to improve the quality of worker involvement.

The law clearly places duties on those who create the risks but it also requires employers to work co-operatively with their workforce to reduce the toll of harm in the workplace. Most employers, ensure that they are meeting their legal duties, but do welcome guidance and advice.

Consulting and involving the workforce in making work activities safe and healthy should be normal practice because it is the right thing to do and because it works and delivers real benefits. Health and safety matters should be the basis of trust, co-operation and joint problem solving between employers and employees in every workplace. The new guidance will help organisations put in place what is appropriate for their organisation.

Visit: www.hse.gov.uk for more information

May 2009

For builders across the UK, the need to be compliant with all things relating to health and safety has never been more important.

Having a sound health and safety policy can bring new opportunities and is something that in the current economic downturn, should be seriously considered.

According to Anthony Botibol, Marketing Manager at HBXL, being health and safety compliant is something builders can do very easily, especially if they make use of IT and software that produces all the relevant paperwork for any job at the click of a button.

New Law

The new Health & Safety Offences Act 2008 came into force on 16 January 2009.

Brought in to increase penalties, it provides courts with greater sentencing powers for those who break health and safety law and has three main points:

1. The Act has raised the maximum fi ne which may be imposed in the lower courts to £20,000 for most health and safety offences

2. It makes imprisonment an option for more health and safety offences in both the lower and higher courts

3. It makes certain offences, which are currently triable only in the lower courts, triable in either the lower or higher courts.

So builders must now be even more vigilant in the way they run their sites and businesses.

Commenting on the new Act Anthony said: “The introduction of this new Act sends out an important message to those who push the boundaries. Those who cut corners, fail to comply with health and safety law or who put workers and the public at risk should be very worried.

“Good builders though have nothing to fear and being compliant with health and safety doesn’t mean they have to spend precious resources using specialists or investing their own time to make sure they’re on the right side of the law. Instead, investing in software such as Health & Safety Xpert makes the whole process easy.

“Its built-in knowledge base determines the likely tasks and risks involved in the project for you. It cuts down the time it would normally take and is much cheaper than employing a health and safety consultant.”

Lack of awareness

A survey carried out by HBXL showed that 47 percent of builders didn’t know whether the CDM (Construction Design Management) Regulations 2007 applied to them and highlights a huge lack of understanding.

Anthony said: “The introduction of the new CDM regulations meant that all building companies have to adhere to the new updated CDM laws.

“The revised scheme was brought in to help reduce the regulatory burden on the construction industry and improve the level of health and safety but it seems there is still confusion about its application.

“The key objective of CDM 2007 was to simplify and clarify the regulations. It is often very diffi cult for building businesses to know where to start on health and safety, but it’s important if they haven’t already put plans in place to do so immediately.

“Health & Safety Xpert has been designed specifi cally to help builders comply with all health and safety paperwork and interprets the ACOP (Approved Code of Practice) for CDM 2007, producing all the necessary paperwork.”

Opportunity to expand

Although the primary reason for having sound health and safety procedures is ensuring safety on site, Anthony believes it may also provide opportunities for builders to expand, and follows pressure by groups such as the FMB to fast track the planning process to release and designate land for social housing.

Should this happen, then, according to Anthony, the winners will be those who can submit the right health and safety paperwork during the tender process, and using Health & Safety Xpert will place them at the front of the queue when contracts are awarded.

He said: “The current financial climate could see the return of a lot more social housing as the Government plans to enable local authorities to build more affordable homes. This in turn should help both the construction industry and the economy.

“The FMB warned the Government not to forget the small builders, the ‘backbone of the economy’, when it comes to dealing out these new jobs.

“If you are one of those small builders it is also down to you to make sure that you are in a position to win the work by being able to submit health and safety paper work with your quote.”

Exclusive offers for all FMB Members

Health & Safety Xpert costs £649 (ex VAT)

Buy Health & Safety Xpert and you can:
 

• Save £100 ex VAT
• Get a FREE place at CDM 2007 training course worth £149 ex VAT 

For further information on Health & Safety Xpert or any other HBXL product call 0870 850 2444 or visit www.hbxl.co.uk

Health & Safety Xpert costs £649 (ex VAT)

FMB members can also benefit from a discount by quoting their FMB membership number.