These FAQs help illustrate the nature of some of the issues that HSE routinely gives advice on. The list is not exhaustive and further questions and answers my be added at a later date.
There has been concern about how HSE will apply health and safety law to the operational circumstances of the emergency services. Because of this HSE has worked with senior police officers, fire and rescue services and other leaders to clarify how these services can strike the balance between their operational and health and safety duties. The result of this collaboration is set out in two statements of principles to help police and fire and rescue services understand how they can comply with health and safety requirements to safeguard the health and safety of the public and their own staff while providing effective emergency services.
HSE's advice remains that as long as asbestos is managed in compliance with the legal requirements and according to HSE's own published guidance there is no significant risk in leaving it in place. Asbestos which is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged is not a significant risk to health and is better left in place and managed. Asbestos which is in poor condition, or which is likely to be damaged or disturbed should be sealed, enclosed or removed.
Advice can be found in the guidance ‘Manual handling in the health services'. This guidance will help everybody who plays a part in ensuing that risks from manual handling are minimised. The guidance demonstrates the benefits of eliminating manual handling where possible, assessing remaining risks and taking steps to reduce them.
HSE is not able to advise on the specific numbers of staff required for particular activities in a prison environment. However, staffing levels should be informed by risk assessment and should take into account:
Staffing levels will therefore vary from prison to prison, time to time and occupancy.
Guidance issued by the National Offender Management Service gives responsibility for fixing staffing levels to Governing Governors on this basis. Consideration should also be given to ensuring that there are sufficient number of trained staff available to deal with any control and restraint situation, that may arise, and to maintain the continued safe operation of the prison while the incident is being dealt with.
Staffing numbers should be under regular review. A reduction of the risks achieved by such things as the introduction of CCTV, a change in the layout of an area, or a shift in the type of prison propulation, may prompt justifiable changes in staffing numbers.
HSE does not publish any specific advice or guidance on the safe operation of prisons. General guidance about the major risks found in prisons such as violence to staff, moving and handling and slips and trips can be found on HSE's website.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) maintains a website for HM Prison Service and publishes a range of policy and guidance on all aspects of prison operation.
Her Majesty's Inspectors of Prisons (HMIP) publishes on its website, reports into the inspections of prisons they have carried out.
The Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) publishes on its website reports into the investigations they have carried out.
In each prison there is an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) They monitor the day-to-day life in their local prison or removal centre and ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.
