The HSC Business Plan for 2005-06 to 2007-08

Strategic Enabling Programmes (STEPs)

31. There are four Strategic Enabling Programmes supporting the two overarching Strategic Delivery Programmes. These Programmes embrace the HSC strategic theme of developing closer partnerships and seek to secure improved health and safety by working with and through local authorities, businesses, other organisations and workers. The Enforcement Strategic Enabling Programme particularly develops the HSC strategic theme of focusing on our core business and the right interventions where we are best placed to reduce workplace injury and ill health.

32. The Local Authorities Partnership Strategic Enabling Programme aims to make the best use of respective strengths to tackle national and local priorities. All of the bodies representing local authorities (the Local Government Association , the Wales Local Government Association , the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities , and the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services ) have agreed a Statement of Intent, which sets out the high-level commitments and provides the framework of objectives for the Programme.

33. The STEP aims to build on existing good practice found where HSE and LAs work together by:

• Examining, mapping and promulgating existing good practice
• Negotiating and piloting joint working initiatives for 2005-2008
• Planning and making arrangements for a coordinated intervention strategy that is related to risk
• Influencing, training and supporting those working in new initiatives; and Improving and strengthening communications in all areas.

For further information see http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/

34. The Business Involvement Strategic Enabling Programme will increase significantly the number of organisations in which directors appreciate the business and social benefits of well-managed health and safety, take responsibility and provide the necessary leadership. It will do this by:

• Publishing communications and stakeholder engagement plans – a priority will be to develop key messages for HSE staff and make the growing knowledge base available to them
• Building on the ‘Business Case for Health and Safety’ campaign
• Continuing to promote health and safety performance management tools for businesses
• Taking forward the Engaging with Large Organisations Pilot
• Promoting other initiatives including director responsibility, public reporting of health and safety performance, and raising the profile of health and safety as part of Corporate Social Responsibility
• Developing the role of the Small Business Trade Association Forum and publicising its work
• Publishing (with the local authorities) a clear evidence-based intervention strategy.

For further information see:

www.hse.gov.uk/corporateresponsibility/index.htm

www.hse.gov.uk/business/index.htm

[back to top]

35. The Worker Involvement Strategic Enabling Programme will secure better worker involvement in sensible health and safety risk management. This requires changes in attitudes to health and safety, and the role of workers. The STEP will do this by:

• Continuing to promote innovative ideas for encouraging more worker involvement, including the intervention of a Workers’ Safety Adviser, by administering the Workers’ Safety Adviser Challenge Fund
• Publishing and promoting case studies of effective worker involvement, which demonstrate the benefits for business and for workers
• Undertaking research to improve understanding of what changes in attitudes and beliefs will stimulate acceptance of the role of workers’ involvement in improving health and safety.

For further information see: http://www.hse.gov.uk/workers/index.htm

36. The Enforcement Strategic Enabling Programme will ensure the effective, efficient and targeted use of prosecution, Crown censure and enforcement notices in delivery of HSC’s strategic goals. The STEP will also consider how to promulgate learning from investigations through the prompt sharing of lessons in parallel with bringing duty holders to account.

37. Taking account of the different legal systems in Scotland and Wales/England, and the recommendations of the Hampton review, the STEP will:

• Maximise, harness and target enforcement activities towards delivery of the injury and ill-health targets
• Facilitate procedural and cultural change that provide for the prompt sharing of lessons from HSE and local authorities’ investigations
• Gain widespread understanding and recognition of the role of enforcement in supporting sensible standards of health and safety.

38. The intention is to move away from enforcement being mainly reactive, to a mixed profile, including both proactive enforcement selected tactically in support of strategic programmes and enforcement arising from investigation of incidents. The STEP also aims to promote understanding about why health and safety enforcement action (especially prosecution) is taken in particular circumstances.

[back to top]