One Local Authority’s Environmental Health Commercial Team (EHCT) became aware of a proposed new, 1 million square ft warehouse project submitted to their Planning Department by a national supermarket chain. The proposals included space for 120 HGV loading docks; the warehouse was planned to be operational on a 24/7 basis. When the plans were examined, the design included:
The EHO considered the proposals in light of the requirements of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (Workplace Regulations). There was some concern over the design of the proposed delivery operations at the site; the EHO felt there was inadequate segregation between pedestrians and vehicles in the delivery area and there was a lack of safe pedestrian walkways around the site.
Using provisions in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007) as a lever, the EHO offered advice to the Client to facilitate improvements in the proposals. Correspondence from the EHO to the developer resulted in a meeting between the two. As a result, some alterations were made to the proposed design, thus enabling the premises to be built more in accordance with Workplace Regulations compliance… a number of the risks associated with workplace transport at the premises have been “designed out”. Specifically, the new proposals better protect the lorry drivers, although the site will still have two-way vehicle movement.
The Planning Department was kept informed throughout all the discussions. The developers and the LA’s Planners are now far more aware of Environmental Health’s health and safety role.
CDM 2007 provides opportunities for LAs to intervene early with construction clients and take action proactively to resolve health and safety issues such as slips, trips and falls and workplace transport in the finished built environment. This case study underlines the advantages in such early, proactive interventions.
Under CDM 2007, the Client has a duty to ensure there are arrangements in place to ensure that the finished premises will comply, in respect of the design and materials used, with the Workplace Regulations. CDM 2007 enables LA Health & Safety Enforcement Officers to take a proactive approach to addressing potential hazards at an early stage of the design, construction and installation phases of a project. However, it is important that action is taken as early in the proposed project as possible in order to influence the Client and Designers before any design changes become very difficult to make.
In this case, the LA’s EHCT has established a closer working relationship with its Planning Department; the Team is copied in to weekly planning lists so they become aware of proposals at an early stage of the development process. The Team has a policy of getting involved with developers in the planning stages in order to encourage health and safety to be 'built in' especially with regard to the Workplace Regulations. This has not been an easy process: health and safety requirements cannot be attached as planning conditions thus Planners have, in the past, sometimes been reluctant to become involved. The EHCT sometimes has to work separately but in parallel with the Planning Department.
Through this particular initiative, the EHCT liaised closely with the Planning Department from the outset. The Planners are now becoming more aware of the reasons behind EHCT’s involvement and are beginning to understand how the design of a proposal can comply with the requirements of the Workplace Regulations and impact on the longer term health and safety of people going onto the site.
This case study was kindly provided by:
Peter Lincoln
Commercial Team Manager
Swale Borough Council
Tel: 01795 417 850
Email: PeterLincoln@swale.gov.uk
Further information may be obtained from Peter (contact details above)