HSE Small Business Trade Association Forum

Introductions and apologies

Judith Donovan, Chairman

Minutes of the last meeting

Forum members are invited to agree the minutes of the last meeting and note developments. 

Judith Donovan, Chairman

Hot Topics

A brief review of current/upcoming HSE initiatives of interest to the membership.  To include:

• Update on recent initiatives
• SBTAF stock-take; progress since July ’08 and future plans
• WAIT – Work at Height Access Equipment Information Tool
• Workplace Temperatures Review
• HSE Publications Project
• Artificial Optical Radiation Directive – Norman Smith to provide 5 minute sighter ahead of wider consultation in August.

Proposed European Union Directive on Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

David Lewis will discuss progress to date with the proposed EU Directive on MSDs.  Forum members will be provided with an introduction to the Directive and how it is currently progressing.  Members will then be invited to share any observations and to discuss the potential impact on SMEs 

David Lewis, Health Policy Development Team,

Worker Involvement: Reinforcing Promotion and Increasing Competence

The Worker Involvement Team will discuss draft proposals for delivering this strand of the new HSE Strategy.  Members will be provided with an overview of intended future initiatives and opinions will be invited as to whether these would be workable or beneficial from a small business perspective.  Feedback and discussion on any element of this topic would also be welcomed.

David Smeatham/Paul Cook, Worker Involvement Unit

LAs and SMEs: Work to Encourage a ‘Joined Up’ Approach

Tony Hetherington, head of HSE’s Local Authorities Unit, will present an introduction to how HSE and LAs are working together to deliver the health and safety strategy.  This will include an overview of recent initiatives and members will be invited to comment on small business experiences of LA approaches to health and safety.  Two LACORs representatives will be in attendance at the meeting and would be interested to learn about health and safety from the small business perspective.

Tony Hetherington, Head of Local Authority Unit

Liquid Petroleum Gas Guidance

Members will be provided with an overview of HSE’s work to communicate the risks associated with buried LPG pipework to SMEs.  Julian Dellic will explain the background to this project, which is related to the fatal ICL Plastics explosion in 2004.  The team would like to receive member suggestions as to the appropriate tone and content of planned guidance, together with advice as to how best to raise awareness of associated issues among affected SMEs.

Julian Delic, Working Environment: Radiation and Gas Division

Information Exchange/A.O.B.

An opportunity for Forum members to air any health and safety issues that are currently concerning their membership.

Judith Donovan, Chairman

Meeting Round-Up and Close

Judith Donovan, Chairman

Date of Next Meeting: 10:00 – 12:30, Thurs 29 October 2009

8th Floor, South Wing Conference Room, Rose Court, London