One hitherto obscure feature of the LASP has been the formation of a new HSE Sector to cover the industries and activities mainly enforced by local authorities. Now that CACTUS is beginning to be staffed to fulfil its sectorial role, the following outline of its role and will help staff and others external to HSE work together to greatest effect.
The basic message is that although part of HSE, CACTUS is to be regarded and held accountable as a shared HSE/LA resource serving and responding to HSE and LA needs in maximising joint efforts to reduce harm at work.
All HSE Sectors operate at a national level, reflecting their origins in HSE's national industry groups.
CACTUS's remit covers the entire service sector apart from MVR, public services, care homes and steel stockholders. Half the UK working population is included.
It will lead on operational policy in relation to this area where the subject matter is specific to any particular industry.
For subjects covered fully by current priority topics dealt with by current hazard programmes, HSE's Health Unit or Safety Unit or others will lead.
As a sector, CACTUS has a range of functions:
Identifying priority areas for intervention within its field of responsibility. We do this by analysing accident, ill health and employment data to highlight those areas where intervention is most likely to impact on reducing harm.
Agreeing standards and guidance and compliance strategies relevant to particular industries through dialogue and engagement with national employer and employee representatives and promulgating and promoting these through effective means including industry specific guidance where appropriate. LA representatives have already participated in such work for many years where they have an interest and this will continue.
Ensuring enforcement officers dealing with these industries are aware of these standards and sources of information on them. This includes writing internal instructions and guidance on relevant topics as appropriate, consulting as appropriate. More streamlined processes will no doubt arise as documents aimed at both HSE and LA staff become the norm.
Advising employers and enforcement officers in relation to sector specific issues that arise within the industries, including, where there is sufficiently detailed knowledge, enforcement advice. Where necessary, providing training material.
Commissioning research relevant to issues in industries within its remit.
Where sectors identify areas that require input from field enforcement officers, projects may be planned and LAs asked to carry them out to address industry problems. These may be programmes of targeted inspections or other interventions where there is evidence that this approach may bear fruit. Similarly, sectors plan publicity campaigns when necessary.
Acting as a source of policy and day to day operational advice on application and interpretation of the EA regulations, consulting with HSE solicitors office as appropriate.
To comment on and feed into policy relating to the industries within its remit.
In these times of 'new ways of working' within HSE, CACTUS will continue to do all this in consultation with relevant HSE and LA colleagues, and with the many programmes of work and projects that may bear on the industries. In future this will have to include much wider consultation with LAs to ensure they have suitable input, are content with proposals and accept the need to act. Liaison with LACORS and HELA or its replacement(s) will be core to this aspect of our work.
CACTUS currently has four sections: consumer services, transportation, leisure /entertainment and utilities. Most work relevant to local authorities will be in the consumer services section initially and two new staff are being recruited to assist with this work. One of these will be seconded from a local authority and it is anticipated that this arrangement will continue indefinitely, with secondees passing through the sector every two/three years or so.
Even with the additional staff, the area of work assigned to CACTUS is enormous and many areas in both the jointly enforced and mainly LA enforced industries will remain untouched. Severe prioritisation of effort will continue to be required.
Based partly on early examination of relevant priorities and partly on ongoing work inherited from others that seems suitably targeted, early sector further efforts will focus on the following industries:
Road haulage, storage and warehousing, postal services, cleaning including window cleaning, exhibition organisers, health and beauty, TV repair, security, hospitality.
Resources permitting, work will also extend as necessary into other areas such as the retail sector and beer delivery. These may include a raft of projects on publications previously started covering for example zoos, charities, horse riding, golf courses, motor sport and office safety, all of which are temporarily suspended until HSE's communications strategy is finalised. The form this work takes will depend on the outcome of discussions with relevant stakeholders in these areas
The other three sections also deal with LA enforced areas. Many leisure and entertainment activities either bridge the enforcement divide or are wholly LA enforced. This section and directs and supports the HSE national fairgrounds inspection team. Transportation covers haulage and warehousing, both areas with much LA involvement
Although principally dealing with HSE industries, the utilities section deals with gas safety, postal services and courier activities.
As the transfer of work continues, mechanisms will be needed to ensure that local authorities are consulted and informed of CACTUS priorities and where inspectorial intervention is needed.
CACTUS has already dealt with a steady flow of PQs and requests for information and advice from local authority inspectors and methods of more efficiently dealing with common questions will be explored.
To fit with the HSE planning cycle bids for work in those areas provisionally identified as priorities have been made. If these are accepted in the initial HSE sift, these will be developed more fully in consultation with local authorities. Initial early thoughts include work to revise and promote guidance on warehouses, to continue to focus onvarious aspects of haulage and deliveries and Royal Mail, and to target cleaning contractors on slips and MSD risks.