How we work
HSE's operational inspectors and health and safety awareness officers deal with a range of industries, including the paper industry, on a day-to-day basis. They visit premises in line with the HSE Business Plan, using a range of methods including:
- on-site inspections (announced and unannounced)
- accident and complaint investigations
- guidance and support, through visits, by phone and at industry events
- serving enforcement notices and prosecuting where necessary
Often inspectors will use guidance such as "Managing Health and Safety in Paper Mills", "Recover Paper Safely" and "Safety for using hand fed platen machines" to support them during the inspection process. The safe interventions proformas on the PABIAC tools page may assist companies in assessing where they are in relation to health and safety management in preparation for any inspection.
HSE's manufacturing sector staff provide support at a national level for the paper, board and recovered paper industries as well as the HSE operational staff who deal with them. HSE works with stakeholders, including trade associations and trade unions, on initiatives to help promote and improve health and safety management in the industry. Most of this proactive national work is coordinated through the strategic work of PABIAC.
The responsibilities of the HSE staff working within the paper sector include:
- providing support and advice to HSE operational staff during accident investigations, inspections or legal proceedings
- engaging with industry stakeholders to promote and support industry initiatives to improve health and safety in companies
- helping HSE to deliver the Helping Great Britain Work Well strategy
- gathering intelligence to ensure HSE and business resources are targeted at those areas presenting the greatest risk to health and safety
- helping to ensure the UK's interests are represented during the production of European machinery safety standards
- setting and agreeing with industry on the minimum safeguarding standards for machines for which there are no specific European standards
- monitoring the health and safety performance of the industries covered