Newsletter July 2012

HSE Overhaul of Approved Codes of Practice

The HSE appear to be following recommendations put forward by Professor Löfstedt in his review of health & safety legislation. Professor Löfstedt (who spoke at our Health and Safety Conference earlier this year) stated that Health and Safety legislation required a complete overhaul. Lord Young, in his 2010 report 'Common sense, common safety' (PDF), also suggested that reforms were needed.

The HSE has embarked on a huge consultation exercise aimed at revising, consolidating, or withdrawing 15 Approved Codes of Practice (ACoP) by the end of next year (2013). The AcOP were always more 'reader friendly' than the legislation they cover, so we hope that any replacements will keep this tradition. Additionally it is expected that there will be 'less room for interpretation' with the new standard.

So what will this mean to those of us on the ground - Will more simplicity mean less confusion? What are your thoughts?

To view all the relevant documentation, visit www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd241.htm The deadline for comments is 14 September.

Why Corporate Governance and Why Now?

At the OECD Corporate Governance for Process Safety conference (14-15 June 2012) Judith Hackitt who was the chair of the event spoke about the need for better Corporate Governance. Ai Solutions fully advocates this as we believe that a 'top down' approach to health and safety is the only way forward. In our experience no matter how good each department may be at addressing health and safety issues, the impact of any health and safety structure or process will have its limits without the support and drive from the corporate team.

This is why we wrote ToolKit CS™ (software for CDM and Asbestos management); the aim is to support the process, to implement a strategy and to monitor compliance along the way. Seeking to improve things and save lives has to be the main drive for health and safety. The need for Leadership in Process Safety Management is the best strategy and having systems and processes in place to support this strategy will bring long term benefits, cutting costs, using less resources and, most of all, saving lives.

To find out more about Ai Solutions call a member of the team on 01525 850080 or visit us at www.aisolutions.co.uk

Latest Health & Safety Blogs

The following are a selection of the latest articles from the Ai Solutions Blog. Each linked article allows comments, so please add your thoughts using the boxes provided.
 

• Republic of Ireland - Latest Health & Safety Report
  While the regulatory focus in the Republic of Ireland has shifted, the number of work-related deaths in the country rose last year.
• £60k Payout to Family of Asbestos Victim
  British Rail has paid £60,000 in compensation to the family of a former Swindon railway worker who died from asbestos related cancer.
• Progress on Health and Safety Reforms
  Employment minister Chris Grayling has published a report on the progress regarding the implementation of the Government's health and safety reforms.

More Information

We regularly receive updates from our customers and contacts about changes to legislation, the latest rumours and so on. We try to be selective with what we pass on and acknowledge our sources as appropriate. If you have information of general interest in the Health & Safety, and particularly, CDM and Asbestos Management arena, then please let us know by e-mail if possible.