Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Hazards

44. This Strategic Programme focuses on activity to address those health and safety hazards, which result in particularly high incidence rates of injuries and ill health.

Total Gross expenditure

Pie chart displaying Total Gross Expenditure: Health and Safety hazards 5%

What we aim to achieve

45. The Delivery Board has set the following targets for the Strategic Programme. These targets will contribute to the Revitalising Health and Safety (RHS) targets (both to be delivered by 31st March 2010):

Target area Health and Safety Hazards Strategic Programme target to be achieved by 31 March 2010 Overall HSE RHS target to be achieved by 31 March 2010
Reduction in fatal and major injuries 5% 10%
Reduction in days lost through work-related injury and ill health 18% 30%
Reduction in new cases of work-related ill health 14% 20%

What we aim to do

46. The Health and Safety Hazards Strategic Programme consists of seven programmes, each dealing with a hazard where significant improvements are needed to help deliver the targets. They are:

  • Falls from height
  • Workplace transport
  • Stress
  • Musculoskeletal Disorders
  • Slips and trips
  • Chemicals
  • Noise and hand-arm vibration

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Falls From Height

47. Despite welcome reductions over the last couple of years, falls from height continue to be the most common cause of fatal injury (49 people in 2002/03) and the second most common cause of major injury to employees (around 3000 in 2002/03). All industry sectors are exposed to the risks presented by this hazard, although the level of incidence varies considerably. Ladders account for the greatest number of fall accidents.

48. The programme aims to reduce the number of workers killed or injured by falls from height by:

  • Implementing the Work at Height Regulations;
  • Piloting sector based approaches and working closely with relevant stakeholders, including the outdoor advertising industry and maintenance/electrical fitters and engineers;
  • Developing guidance on the use of work equipment and safe working methods, where work at height cannot be avoided. This work will focus on the design and use of ladders, ladder stability devices, and the supply and use of fall arrest equipment;
  • Carrying out a targeted inspection programme and investigating where necessary.

49. For further information got to http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm

Workplace Transport

50. Workplace transport accounts for significant numbers of fatal and major injuries. Every year, about 70 people are killed in incidents involving vehicles at the workplace, (this includes being struck by a moving vehicle, falling from vehicles, vehicle overturns and being struck by objects falling from a vehicle). In addition, there are more than 1000 major injuries.

51. The programme aims to reduce the number of workers killed or injured by workplace transport incidents by:

  • Tightening requirements for driver training;
  • Influencing the safe design, manufacture and use of workplace vehicles (including mobile lifting equipment, cranes, earth moving machinery and industrial trucks);
  • Developing guidance on 'safe site' inspection for inspectors;
  • Producing compatible guidance for stakeholders ('The safe site tool kit');
  • Commissioning and undertaking research; and
  • Carrying out a targeted inspection programme and investigating where necessary.

52. For further information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/index.htm

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Work Related Stress

53. Work related stress is the second most commonly reported cause of occupational ill health in Great Britain. In 2001/02, over half a million people believed they were experiencing stress at a level that was making them ill.

54. The programme is built around the five strands of the Securing Health Together strategy. For further information see http://www.ohstrategy.net

55. The programme aims to improve understanding of the causes of work related stress and make sure that organisations know how to tackle these causes effectively by:

  • Developing new management standards and supporting guidance to provide employers with a systematic approach to tackling the issue;
  • Equipping enforcement officers to handle cases of stress routinely;
  • Encouraging employers to follow existing guidance in assessing the risks in their workplaces;
  • Encouraging stakeholders to share their knowledge and form networks to help develop practical solutions;
  • Commissioning and undertaking research; and
  • Carrying out a targeted inspection programme and investigating where necessary.

56. For further information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm

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Musculoskeletal Disorders

57. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are the most common type of occupational illness, accounting for over a third of all the working days lost due to work-related illness.

58. WRMSDs are well understood and we know how to manage them. The programme utilises evidence-based practical interventions as a basis for a holistic approach. It is built around the Securing Health Together strategy. For further information go to http://www.ohstrategy.net.

59. We aim to reduce the incidence, and number of working days lost from WRMSDs by:

  • Promoting interventions that involve all individuals in an organisation, including managers, workers and their representatives;
  • Training HSE and local authority inspectors to improve their ergonomic skills and understanding of WRMSDs;
  • Training stakeholders who attend a series of planned Safety and Health Awareness Days;
  • Commissioning research to provide scientific evidence supporting the benefits of successful management of WRMSDs;
  • Producing new generic and sector specific guidance;
  • Undertaking further work to update the Manual Handling Risk Assessment Flow Chart Tool (MAC) website; and
  • Carrying out a targeted inspection programme and investigating where necessary.

60. For further information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/index.htm

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Slips and Trips

61. Slips and trips are the most common cause of occupational major injury accidents. The programme will work in partnership with key intermediaries and stakeholders to develop and communicate knowledge of the causes of slips and trips and how to prevent them.

62. The programme aims to reduce the number of workers injured by slips and trips incidents by:

  • Training and supporting HSE and local authority inspectors in taking appropriate action (having an agreed and consistent approach) to influence the behaviour of duty holders;
  • Explaining to duty holders how to prevent slips and trips, particularly in sectors where a large number of slips and trips incidents have occurred;
  • Encouraging employers to reduce the risk from slips and trips to the lowest reasonably practicable level;
  • Working with clients, architects and designers to promote awareness of slips and trips issues, particularly 'designing out' slips and trips hazards;
  • Engaging national and international standards agencies to gain agreement for standardised testing of flooring and footwear slip resistance;
  • Commissioning and undertaking research to identify causal factors, trends and slip resistance measurement techniques; and
  • Carrying out a targeted inspection programme and investigating where necessary.

63. For further information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/index.htm

Chemicals

64. The programme aims to reduce the number of deaths and cases of ill health caused by failures in the workplace to properly control chemicals.

65. The programme will focus on a number of areas, including:

  • Identifying and managing risks from asbestos and other priority carcinogens;
  • Taking forward the asthma action plan to reduce exposure to the top eight causes of asthma;
  • Tackling the causes of other respiratory diseases;
  • Tackling the causes of skin disease, particularly in occupations such as hairdressing, beauty therapy, floristry, metal working and printing;
  • Raising awareness of the risks posed by chemicals and the correct action to take.

66. For further information go to:

Physical Agents

67. The programme aims to reduce the number of cases of work-related ill health caused each year by loud noise and hand-arm vibration.

68. The programme will adopt a three-pronged approach to reducing ill health, addressing:

  • Manufacturers/suppliers to reduce emissions at source;
  • Employers to take optimum, cost-effective measures to reduce exposure; and
  • Workers to recognise risk and take appropriate preventive action.

69. The package of new regulations and guidance, implementing European directives on noise and vibration, will inform and support the work of the programme.

70. For further information go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm and http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/index.htm

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Updated 28.07.10