The HSE/LA regulatory partnership

Julie Sharman

HSE’s Local Authority unit

Redgrave Court, Bootle

HSE/LA regulatory partnership• Historical and background context

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974• Section 18

– duty on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Local Authorities (LAs) to make adequate arrangements for enforcement.

• Section 18 standard on enforcement– the arrangements that LAs and HSE’s Field Operation Directorate should put in

place to meet this duty.– http://www.hse.gov.uk/section18/index.htm

• The Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998- demarcation

– http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/23-15.htm#

June 2009- joint statement of commitment– Underpins the partnership– Sets out objectives and partnership structures

Strategic engagement– HELA/LGP/Local Government Regulation

LAU- facilitate and promote the partnership– National policy informed by LA experience– LAs own and deliver priorities– LA standards and practices consistent– Activity data and information gathered and disseminated– Liaison with Local Government Regulation, LBRO and others

Operational- engagement with LA professionals– Regional partnership teams– Specialist expertise

The S18 Standard – Making a Difference….. – Applies to FOD and LAs – Broad principles and specific direction– Implement by March 2011– Toolkits developed – examples of what the standard means in practice

– Make it happen • priorities and planned interventions, • capacity, management infrastructure, performance management- to deliver effective

service, • competent inspectorate

– Do it right • enforcement policy- proportionate, accountable, consist, transparent and targeted

– Work together • Partnership working, best use of resources

– Sell the story • promote sensible risk management

Priorities and Planning

Priorities to take account of :– national & regional priorities, targets and plans – locally derived objectives – relevant guidance and policies.

Targeting Interventions

Simple rating system determines approach. Premises scored against four factors:– Confidence in management – Health performance – Safety performance – Welfare standards

Targets risk or where hazards are least well controlledTargets those that seek economic advantage from non-compliance

Maintaining a competent inspectorate

Regulators’ development needs analysis

Guidance for Regulators Information Point

What the RDNA Contains

COMMON CORE SKILLS AND

KNOWLEDGE

LA SECTOR KNOWLEDGE

MAJOR HAZARDS KNOWLEDGE

FOD SECTOR KNOWLEDGE

DISCIPLINE SPECIALIST

KNOWLEDGE

Providing assurance against the Section 18 standard

– Self assessment– Improvement Plans– Peer Review

Current work

– National priorities 2011/12

– Sharing good practice

– Sector strategies for beauty and leisure industries

Regional partnership working- examples

– Estates excellence- ‘Get it right, get efficient, and get fit for work’.

– Business Engagement partnership

– Business advice day, establishment of a business consultative forum

– Norfolk 'Safe Workplace, Better Business’ project

– London Boroughs’ Violence at work project

• I’d be happy to answer your questions