hse health inspection initiative in construction webinar

HSE health inspection initiative in construction webinar

17 November 2014

Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Executive

‘Think health’ – HSE

inspection initiative 2014

Ian Strudley

HM Principal Specialist Inspector

Head of Health Risk Management Unit

Construction Division

HSE

What I’ll do….

• Background

• Why is there a problem… in construction

• HSE targeting – what inspectors are and aren’t

looking at….

• Enforcement data from inspection initiative

• What’s next….. ?

Background

• HSE’s former Chief Inspector Heather Bryant :

“ We recognise the construction sector’s progress in reducing the number of people killed and injured by its activities. But it is clear from these figures why there is an unacceptable toll of ill-health and fatal disease in the industry. We will make sure the construction industry thinks health, as well as safety. “

Why is it a problem ?

Health and Safety at Work

etc. Act 1974

Why is it a problem ?

Health and Safety at Work

etc. Act 1974

Why is it a problem… in construction ?

Number of construction safety related fatalities

2013 / 14:

42

Accident v Ill Health Fatals

Burden of occupational cancer

Lesley Rushton et al

Imperial College

London:

http://www.nature.com/

bjc/journal/v107/n1s/index.html

What’s the problem … ?

• Occupational cancers = 5.3% of total

– 2005 deaths 8010

– 2004 registrations 13598

– 56% male registrations in construction

Where’s the problem – in construction

• Asbestos

• Solar radiation

• Silica

• Painters

• Diesel engine exhaust emissions

• PAHs – Coal tars / pitches

Where’s the problem in construction –

Not all fatal diseases, but…

• Lifting and Carrying

– Handling is most common over 7-

day injury in the industry.

– Skilled construction and building

trades have one the highest

estimated rates of back and upper

limb disorders

• Noise and Vibration

– Industry has one of the largest

number of new disablement benefit

claims cases.

HSE targeting…

• What are we looking at…..

• What aren’t we looking at…..

What do we need to do…..?

Need to refocus:

• ‘Treat health like safety’ – Managing health risks is no different to managing

safety risks

• ‘Ill health can be prevented’ – It is possible and practical to carry out construction

work without causing ill health

• ‘Everyone as a role to play’ – Everyone must take ownership of their part of the

process

What do we need to do .….?

Occupational Risks v Lifestyle Issues

What do we need to do …..?

Surveillance/Monitoring? Risk Control?

So, what do we do …..?

• ‘Control the risk not the symptoms’

– Monitoring and health surveillance are not enough

on their own. The first priority is to stop people

being harmed

• ‘Manage risk, not lifestyle’

– Helping workers tackle lifestyle issues may be

beneficial but is not a substitute for preventing work-

related ill health.

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

• Visits:

– Aimed to conduct 500

inspections during the two-

week period

– 570 sites visits with 896

contractors inspected.

– 839 inspections recorded.

2014 Health Inspection Initiative - topics

• Silica

2014 Health Inspection Initiative - topics

• Other hazardous substances

2014 Health Inspection Initiative - topics

• Manual handling

2014 Health Inspection Initiative - topics

• Noise and vibration

2014 Health Inspection Initiative - topics

• Welfare

2014 Health Inspection Initiative - topics

• Asbestos

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Enforcement

• Strong returns despite no specific enforcement

expectations:

– 13 PNs were served.

– 108 INs were served

– 267 NoCs were issued at 146 sites.

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Enforcement topics

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Conclusions

• Long latency disease effects of health issues means

fewer topics / appropriate situations for PNs compared to

immediacy of safety?

• INs and NoCs valuable enforcement tools for health?

• A perception of managing health risks well and going

beyond requirements by – e.g. wellbeing initiatives.

• Higher proportion of dust/ welfare enforcement

– More ‘visible’?

– A significant issue on most sites?

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Conclusions : dusts

• Most significant enforcement area but still an

improving picture:

• Contractors starting to look more at removing

risk or improving available controls.

• Risk awareness amongst larger contractors is

generally high but issues not necessarily

adequately controlled

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Conclusions : dusts

• Focus has moved on from silica to include other dusts.

• Much greater appreciation / use of extraction systems

but not always to the correct standard and dry

sweeping remains an issue.

• Reliance on RPE

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Conclusions : other substances

For example :

• Asbestos: missing surveys and

instruction / training.

• Lead: Roofing and old paint

• Dichloromethane / Solvents: e.g.

as a carpet adhesive.

• Dermatitis: Rendering, cement etc.

• Isocyanate products: Manually

applied rather than sprayed.

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Conclusions : noise and vibration

• General focus on management

arrangements rather than

specific controls

• Sites placing a lot of reliance

on monitoring / recording

vibration trigger time

• Reliance on hearing protection

for noise

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Conclusions : manual handling

• Broader discussions covering both management

arrangements and specific controls

• Earlier work on kerbs and paving seems embedded.

• More evidence of good practice. References made to MAC

tool, lifting solutions and designing out.

2014 Health Inspection Initiative

- Conclusions : manual handling

• There were some recurring problems:

– Heavy Plasterboard

– Heavy glazing / installation problems

What’s next……?

What’s next ?

So, in conclusion remember…..

Think Health!

– Greater focus on health, not just by HSE…

Thank you for participating

any questions ?

Ian Strudley

HM Principal Specialist Inspector

Head of Health Risk Management Unit

Construction Division

HSE

01256 404085

ian.strudley@hse.gsi.gov.uk