The regulator’s View: Common failings and how to control them Jane Beckmann Health Unit Construction Sector

What I Will Cover What is the problem? Findings from recent initiatives Managing health risks – solutions Plan of work for 2016/17 Going forwards 2

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 1: Health v Safety Nothing new: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 3

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 1: Health v Safety But… Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 4

Health v Safety 1994: Latham report stimulates industry initiatives 1998: Egan report sets out proposals for improving the industry 2001: Construction Health and Safety Summit 2002: HSE Revitalising document 5

Health v Safety Since then: Major reduction in fatal accidents 6

Health v Safety Significant reduction in major injuries 7

Health v Safety Health has not kept pace with this: Slower reduction on work-related illness More days lost from health than safety 8

Together, we can make a difference 9

Health and Safety in Construction

Health and Safety in Construction

Health and Safety in Construction

Health and Safety in Construction

Health v Safety Emerging picture on cancer: Over 40% of ALL workplace cancer registrations and deaths are to construction workers Not just asbestos but: Silica Diesel engine exhaust Painters Skin cancer 14

Health v Safety 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. 15

Health v Safety Costs £0.4 Billion Excludes legacy cancer deaths etc 16

Health v Safety Need to refocus: ‘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. 17

Control the risk not the symptons Prioritising: Surveillance/Monitoring? Risk Control? 18

Manage risk, not life style What does occupational health mean? Occupational Hazards v Lifestyle Issues

Health v Safety 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 20

Is there still a problem? Two HSE initiatives during 2014 Health initiative – June/July Refurbishment campaign – Sept/Oct Refurbishment campaign 2015 Refurbishment campaign 2016

2014 Health Initiative 13 Prohibition Notices; 108 Improvement Notices 267 Notices of Contravention issued at 146 sites

2014 Refurbishment Initiative Health and Safety Inspection of smaller refurb sites: 537 Notices (including 2 ELCI) 314 PNs (including 46 on health) 221 INs (including 92 on health)

2015 Refurbishment initiative 692 Notices 432 PNs (including 52 on health) 260 INs (including 152 on health)

Solutions to common tasks

Dutyholder Guidance Targeted clear risk control guidance

Operational Guidance Transparent and Proportionate

Key Points for dust control: Some tasks create very high dust levels Repeated exposure to these causes lung disease Important to control each exposure The bigger the exposure, the better the control measures needed First duty to eliminate The control at source RPE is the last line of defence

Silica Tasks: Cutting Eliminate or minimise

Silica Tasks: Cutting Control: Water (or on-tool extraction) Mask APF 20 Uncontrolled Controlled

Silica Tasks: Wall Chasing Eliminate or minimise Design out Use another method

Silica Tasks: Wall Chasing Control On-tool extraction (M or H class) Mask APF 20

How much dust is a problem? Uncontrolled Controlled

Extraction Benefits Industry figures for extraction: Up to +60% increase in life of tools Up to +20% increase in life of consumables Up to +60% quicker application speed No need to clean up dust created: up to 15 kg/h

Silica Tasks: Wall Chasing Power Assisted RPE for mortar raking?

Silica Tasks: Sweeping Eliminate or minimise: Control other tasks! Control Remove larger bits Rake M or H extraction with vacuum attachments etc APF 20 mask depending on what else happening

Guidance

Guidance FAQ: http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/faq-dust.htm Website COSHH essential sheets

Guidance New website HSG 53 revision DVD Bundle

Going Forwards HSE Business Plan: Focus on asbestos, silica and manual handling Publish HSE's 3 -5 year strategy for work-related ill health

Going Forwards Construction Plan Health a visit priority Asbestos Dust Manual handling Focus of refurbishment

Going forward Good fit with HSE perspective: Health risks are a priority construction topic: Statistics High risk activities Significant compliance gap if poorly controlled

New strategy for health and safety 43

New strategy for health and safety #HelpGBWorkWell

Working together

Working together Key themes

Working together

Working together Health Summit Turning Commitment into Action Summit Follow up January 2017 Sector specific health strategy launch opportunity? Key themes

Working together Health has not kept pace with this: Slower reduction on work-related illness More days lost from health than safety 49

Thank you Jane Beckmann Construction sector Health unit jane.beckmann@hse.gov.uk 50