Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Simplification plan
| Initiative | Nature of burden | Description of measure | Desired outcome | Quantification where appropriate | Progress and timescales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensible Risk Management – myth of the month | Policy and administrative | A web-based campaign, using cartoons, to tackle common myths surrounding “bureaucratic” requirements that do not actually exist. One of the first myths was “risk assessments are long and complex”. | To contribute to the culture changing aim of the overall sensible risk management campaign and to de-mystify some requirements. | Over 1.1 million visitors have visited the myth of the month webpages since they were launched, and interest has remained fairly constant, with a slight increase in last few months. | April 2007 – myth of the month launched December 2007 – 2008 calendar distributed to stakeholders and made available for purchase December 2008 – final myth published and 2009 calendar to be distributed to stakeholders and made available for purchase |
| Sensible Risk Management – “sign up to sensible risk” | Policy | Local Authority Chief Executives and senior representatives encouraged to sign up to the principles of sensible risk management. | For local authorities to provide commitment to sensible risk approach, both as dutyholders and as regulators. | 56 local authorities have signed up. | July 2007 –“sign up to sensible risk” launched. Summer 2008 – campaign ends. |
| Sensible Risk Management – health and safety in the education sector | Policy | HSE is working with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and other stakeholders, including the schools Implementation Review Unit to promote sensible risk management in schools. The emphasis is on reducing unnecessary risk assessment paperwork. A package will be launched in the form of example risk assessments, sharing good practice and revised and updated web-based guidance. |
To reduce unnecessary risk assessment paperwork in schools. | N/A | May 2007 – Article in Governors’ Agenda magazine, putting straight misconceptions about health and safety requirements for school trips. January 2009 – launch of package of tools. |
| Construction – aligning between the CDM, planning and building control regimes | N/A | HSE is working with CLG to examine ways of reducing burdens on construction clients. HSE is initially looking to introduce clearer signposting about CDM through links on CLG’s Planning Portal | To make information about CDM easier to find through the use of existing electronic channels, and therefore reduce time for construction clients in finding out what they are required to do under CDM. | N/A | December 2008 – links to be established between the building control pages on CLG’s Portal and the HSE website. |
| Pre-qualification schemes in construction | N/A | HSE is supporting and encouraging work led by the Safety Schemes in Procurement Competence Forum (SSIP) in developing a standard process for assessing health and safety competence | The aim is to simplify the pre-qualification process for SMEs through reducing paperwork and duplication of efforts. | N/A | The work will continue into 2009. |
| Easier Access to Services programme (EASe) | Administrative | The EASe Programme is designed to ensure that all of HSE’s public contact arrangements (other than enforcement of permissioning) are better tuned to customer needs, available via a range of channels. | Better access to information, guidance and advice by building on success of existing services ensuring all channels are mutually supportive and consistent. | The Programme has yet to develop the full business case of benefits. | July 2008 – programme approved by HSE Board. Existing contact centre contracts due to expire and will be let as a single integrated contract to commence in 3rd quarter of 2009 |