Priority Programmes

• Introduction
• Measuring progress
• Delivery strategy
• Resource allocations for HSC’s Priority Programmes
• Falls from height
• Workplace transport
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Work related stress
• Construction
• Agriculture
• Health services
• Slips and trips

Board Owner: Kate Timms, Deputy Director General Policy

Introduction

15. HSC, HSE and Government are committed through the SR 2000 Public Service Agreement, to deliver the following improvements in health and safety by 2004 against a baseline of 1999/2000.

Measuring progress

16. In June 2001 the HSE published a Statistical Note on Progress Measurement setting out the principles that its statisticians would use to assess progress against the national targets. Reports on progress have been published each year from the base year of 1999/2000. The first of these annual reports, based on data available at October 2001 was published in Autumn 2001, the second in Autumn 2002. Further work is needed to provide assurance of progress in-year and this work is being developed alongside evaluation to assess the effectiveness of completed work.

Delivery strategy

17. Work on HSC's eight priority programmes: HSC's Strategic Plan 2001/04 identified eight priority programmes to tackle the most significant hazards and industries where large numbers are employed, the incidence rate of injuries or ill health is high, and where there are levers to deliver success. The hazard programmes identified include falls from height, workplace transport, musculoskeletal disorders, work related stress and slips and trips. The priority sectors identified include construction, agriculture and the health services. It is in these programmes that action is needed now to achieve the improvements necessary to meet the national targets.

18. Topic-based inspections: In addition to the resources allocated to the three HSC priority sectors, HSE’s Field Operations Directorate (FOD) will use topic-based inspections to concentrate on the HSC priority topics in other industries and sectors. These inspections will focus on the effective control of the main risk areas for each topic as the prime means of judging dutyholders management of health and safety. Inspector’s assessments of the levels of compliance for each of the main risk areas will be used to evaluate improvements in risk controls over industries, sectors or individual companies. In the local authority enforced sector, 20% of local authorities are trialing this approach with a view to it being adopted by all local authorities in 2004/05.

19. HSE and local authorities must motivate everyone in the workplace health and safety systems including employers, employees, worker representatives, trade unions, and others to help us deliver improvements in health and safety. This includes working through the priority programmes and also exploiting other opportunities to influence as presented by HSC’s mandatory activities e.g. the Revitalising and Securing Health Together strategies, work with small firms, developing work on rehabilitation, providing information and advice, and conducting research.

20. Projects to influence Key Stakeholders include:

• Developing a programme with other Government Departments to ensure 'Government leads by example' in its role as employer and procurer and working to see how this can be extended to other public services areas.
• Working with other Government departments on shared agendas.
• Cross-industry initiatives focussed on changing attitudes towards management of health and safety - including:
  • The challenge to the top 350 companies to report publicly on their health and safety performance;
  • Corporate responsibility and accountability including board level leadership and direction;
  • Co-operation with the insurance industry;
  • Effective involvement of workers and their representatives;
  • Encouraging investors to pay greater attention to health and safety performance when making key investment decisions; and
  • Development of the business case for good health and safety management.

21. Work outside the priority programmes will contribute to achieving the targets and many sectors have recognised their role in achieving the PSA and have set targets for themselves. The longer term challenge is to use all available levers to achieve a culture change in the way industry views health and safety.

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Resource allocations for HSC’s Priority Programmes

22. HSC/E is refocusing its resources to deliver the eight priority programmes; for 2003/04, Approximately £33million of HSE staff resource (24% of HSE staff by salaries) is allocated to delivering the Priority Programmes:

23. This £33million of staff resource is broadly allocated between priority programmes as shown below. Within each programme, inspection and enforcement activity account for the most significant staff resource. Other activities include developing guidance and standards, and developing and sharing good practice. Research and publicity is funded from Programme budgets and described in Mandatory Activities. The strategy for each programme is outlined below, further information can be found on the HSE website.

Long description available

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Falls from height

What we aim to achieve

• 5% reduction in deaths and major injuries from falls from heights by 2004; and
• 10% reduction in deaths and major injuries from falls from height by 2010.

What we aim to do

We aim to reduce the number of workers killed or injured by falls from height by: improving knowledge of the incidence of falls accidents and the reasons for them; piloting ways of tackling falls accidents in occupations/activities most affected; replicating successful approaches by embedding them into industry culture and HSE polices and practices.

In 2003-4 we shall be: continuing research to improve knowledge of key technical and human factors in falls; progressing projects on guidance on use of ladders; work at height by maintenance fitters; addressing work at height in schools; carrying out research on accidents involving stairs and, with the workplace transport priority programme, reduction in falls from vehicles; and by carrying out initiatives in the food and shipbuilding industries.

For more information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls

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Workplace Transport

What we aim to achieve

• 5% reduction in fatal and major workplace transport incidents by 2004; and
• 5% reduction in over 3 day injuries arising from workplace transport incidents by 2004.

What we aim to do

Workplace transport accounts for significant numbers of fatal and major injuries. To reduce these incidents this priority programme will focus on engaging stakeholders to ensure the safe management of workplace transport activities through ensuring a safe site, safe driver, and safe vehicle. Activities will include improved guidance, webpages, exploring options on driver training, promoting and evaluating the Safe Driver Safer Workplace CD-Rom, conducting further research to improve our understanding of workplace transport problems and promoting research findings to help employers, employees and safety representatives improve arrangements for risk control.

For more information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

What we aim to achieve

• 12% reduction in the incidence rate of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) by 2004; and
• 15% reduction in the number of working days lost due to WRMSD by 2004.

What we aim to do

Musculoskeletal disorders account for over one third of all working days lost due to work related illness. But they are well understood and we know how to manage them. The programme uses this know-how for practical interventions in the framework of the occupational health strategy Securing Health Together. It promotes a comprehensive approach involving all individuals and organisations in the workplace including workers and their representatives. A significant element is aimed at securing compliance with relevant legislation, which requires the application of ergonomic principles to achieve effective and efficient solutions.

For more information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd

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Work related Stress

What we aim to achieve

10 year indicators are:

• 20% reduction in incidence of work related stress by 2010; and
• 30% reduction in number of working days lost from work related stress by 2010.

What we aim to do

This programme focuses on working with others to develop management standards for stressors and how these standards can be used to reduce work related stress. This includes better equipping HSE and local authorities to advise on work related stress. HSE is supporting publicity and guidance to educate employers especially on risk assessment and to encourage them to engage with employees and their safety representatives in risk assessment to maximise effectiveness.

For more information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress

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Construction

What we aim to achieve

Our programme aims to stimulate the construction industry to achieve challenging targets and plans set by them at the 2001 Construction Health and Safety Summit:

• 40% reduction in incidence rate of fatal and major injures by 2004/5;
• 20% reduction in incidence rate of work related ill health to employees by 2004/5; and
• 20% reduction in number of working days lost by 2004/5.

What we aim to do

We will engage with key stakeholders including clients designers, planning supervisors, contractors, suppliers, trades unions and workers, directly and through representative bodies to deliver a targeted programme of work on:

• Significant health and safety risks, (eg MSD, asbestos, cement dermatitis, noise, HAVS, work at height, site transport and work on high speed roads) the occupational health support pilot and the basics of tidy, well organised sites and decent welfare;
• Early intervention with CDM duty holders on selected projects and working with industry to improve competence and knowledge of all duty holders (in particular designers and Government Departments);
• Promoting key issues with small firms, through the supply chain, intermediaries and the Working Well Together initiative of Safety and Health Awareness Days;
• Actions from the Revitalising Health and Safety in Construction discussion document; and
• Improving our intelligence by better analysis and data capture techniques and a targeted programme of research in collaboration with industry partners.

For more information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction

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Agriculture

What we aim to achieve

• 5% reduction in fatal accident incident rate to employees by 2004/05 and 30% by 2009/10;
• 5% reduction in fatal accident incident rate to self employed by 2004/5 and 10% by 2009/10;
• 5% reduction in major accident incident rate to employees by 2004/05 and 30% by 2009/10; and
• Reduce child fatal accidents in agriculture to zero by 2010.

What we aim to do

The programme relies on the full support and cooperation of stakeholders (including Government Departments). With their help we aim to secure a culture change resulting in widespread recognition that good health and safety standards are integral to sustainable modern farm business. We will seek to increase the awareness of hazards/risks and the practical measures available to eliminate or control them.

To improve occupational health in agriculture we aim to develop, trail and evaluate a model for the provision of occupational health and rehabilitation services in rural communities; and to promote and encourage farmers and agricultural workers to access rural occupational health and rehabilitation services.

For more information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture

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Health Services

What we aim to achieve

• With NHS Wales – secure commitment to the RHS targets;
• With NHS Scotland a 25% reduction in all incident/injuries by 2006;
• With NHS England (currently under review previously 30% reduction in accidents, violence and sickness absence by end 2003/4); and
• Targets and baselines for the private sector are under development.

What we aim to do

HSE will work directly with NHS trusts and the health services in England, Scotland and Wales through their existing and emerging targets and programmes to support the delivery of a substantial contribution to improving health and safety. HSE will also target poorer performers, enforcing when appropriate, and help identify and encourage best practice initiatives.

For more information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/

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Slips and Trips

What we aim to achieve

• 5% reduction in fatal and major incidents caused by slips and trips by 2004; and
• 10% reduction in the incidence rate of all injuries from slips and trips by 2004.

What we aim to do

Slips and Trips are the highest cause of major incidents, (and often result in broken bones, yet they are perceived as insignificant and unavoidable. 37% of major injuries are reported as Slips and Trips and many more accidents reported under other categories such as falls from height are often initiated by a slip or trip. This programme aims to change attitudes and offer practical solutions to reduce slips and trips via research, publicity and focused enforcement activity.

For more Information on http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips