Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive

Construction health and safety - current developments

Philip White - HSE23 October 2012

Current developments

• Reform of health and safety landscape & culture– Simplification of legislation – Extension cost recovery

• Olympics - Health and Safety Learning Legacy– Lessons for all parts of the industry

Simplifying legislation

• Revised Construction Design and Management Regulations

• Revocations – where duplication or no beneficial outcomes– Construction Head Protection Regulations– Notification of Tower Crane Regulations

• Review of Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs)

CDM Regulatory package

• No change to technical standards

• Principal contractor role to remain the same

• Possible Change– CDM Coordinator Role– Competence– Removal or reduction of ACoP

• Consultation mid 2013

Extension of cost recovery

• Fee for Intervention:

– In operation since 1 October 2012

– Recovery of costs for material breach:

“A material breach is when, in the opinion of the HSE inspector, there is or has been a contravention of health and safety law that requires them to issue a notice in writing of that opinion to the dutyholder”

– Compliant businesses will not pay a fee

– Provides an incentive to operate within the law

– Guidance available now on HSE’s website

Health and Safety Learning Legacy

Six HSE-funded research reports:

• Leadership and worker involvement

• Occupational health provision

• Safety culture case studies

• CDM dutyholders

• Site communications

• Pre-conditioning for success

Available at: www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/london-2012-games/research-reports

Learning Legacy

• Successful construction outcomes in the build were inextricably linked to the human behaviours through the supply chain– Contracts, processes, systems and

equipment provide the framework– Effectiveness of their implementation comes

through relationships– The two aspects, systems and people, work in

tandem; neither is sufficient on its own but the full potential of each relies on each other

Learning Legacy

• Successful relations in the context of construction projects are not just a matter of chance– Clarity of purpose, leadership through all

levels, respect for each other’s roles and sharing of expertise and learning are invaluable for forging effective relationships

To End

• Environment very challenging

• Much change given reforms

• Enforcement still core

• Take up the Learning Legacy