The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulatory body for health and safety in the workplace in the United Kingdom. According to gov.uk, the HSE prevents work-related death, injury and ill health through guidelines and legislation. The HSE also carries out inspections of workplaces in the interest of protecting and ensuring the safety of employees from hazards and incidents, through checking businesses’ compliance with safety standards and legislation.
HSE inspectors visit thousands of locations every year. HSE inspectors have criteria to choose target sectors and companies for inspections. They choose inspection targets in sectors with serious risks, where risks are not well controlled. They also select specific companies based on:
Previous performance
Concerns raised by workers, the public or others
Incident investigations
Reports of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
What to expect during a Health and Safety Inspection?
As a business with a responsibility for protecting its workforce, you should always be prepared for a health and safety inspection. Expect your Health & Safety inspector to want to:
See the workplace, workforce workflows and observe a sample of workplace activities, conditions and practices
Speak to relevant people, for example managers, supervisors, workers and employee representative
Assess compliance with health and safety laws & identify breaches
Inspect relevant documents, if necessary
Check if risk controls are effective
Consider appropriate enforcement
What to expect after a Health and Safety Inspection?
After the inspector has finished looking round your workplace, they might:
Offer advice (either verbal or in writing)
Give you a notification of contravention
Give you an improvement notice
Give you a prohibition notice
Prosecute you for breaching health and safety laws
In this guide, we’ll help you prepare by exploring:
The Brilliant Basics you need to have in place keep your people safe
Simple, Low Cost, Technology you need to improve compliance
1. The Brilliant Basics to keep your people safe
HSE inspectors may visit you with or without warning and the law lets them visit at any reasonable time. HSE inspectors do follow the government’s code of practice on entering businesses. So you have to be always prepared by implementing certain brilliant basics.
Understand The Regulatory Requirements for Health & Safety
Familiarise yourself with the specific health and safety regulations governing your industry. These regulations can vary depending on your location and the nature of your business. Common regulatory bodies include HSE (Health and Safety Executive) in the UK (or OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the US) and local health departments..
Establish a Health and Safety Policy
Develop a comprehensive health and safety policy tailored to your organisation's needs. This policy should outline your commitment to maintaining a safe work environment, procedures for reporting hazards, emergency protocols, and employee responsibilities.
Implement Safety Procedures and Protocols
Establish clear safety procedures for various tasks and ensure that all employees adhere to them. This may include protocols for operating machinery, handling chemicals, lifting heavy objects, and responding to emergencies. Regularly review and update these procedures to reflect changes in regulations or workplace conditions.
Provide Training and Education
Ensure that all employees are familiar with the policies and receive adequate training. Invest in employee training programs to enhance awareness of health and safety practices. Offer training sessions on topics such as proper lifting techniques, emergency evacuation procedures, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Ensure that new hires receive comprehensive safety training as part of their onboarding process.
Conduct Regular Inspections, Audits and Risk Assessments
Schedule regular internal inspections, audits and risk assessments to proactively identify and address potential hazards. Encourage employees to report safety concerns promptly and implement a system for addressing them effectively.
By conducting routine assessments, you can prevent accidents and ensure ongoing compliance with regulations.
Maintain Documentation
Keep thorough records of all safety-related activities, including training sessions, inspections, risk assessments, incident reports, and corrective actions taken. Organise these documents in a systematic manner for easy access during inspections.
Where HSE inspectors have provided you with a specific date for inspection, make sure you also prepare in advance.
Prepare for the Inspection Day
In the days leading up to the inspection, allocate time to prepare your workplace thoroughly. Clean and organise work areas, repair any equipment or facilities in disrepair, and address any outstanding safety issues identified during pre-inspection assessments. Designate a knowledgeable staff member to accompany the inspector and address any questions or concerns that arise.
2. Simple, Low Cost, Technology to improve compliance
Consider leveraging Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) software to streamline your preparation efforts and enhance compliance with regulatory requirements. EHS software offers a comprehensive platform for managing various aspects of health and safety management like incident management, near miss, hazards and observation management, audits, inspections, risk assessments, documentation, training, analytics and compliance tracking.
While not mandatory, integrating EHS software into your preparation process can offer several benefits including:
Centralised Data Management
Streamlined Incident Reporting and Management
Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Real time Data Analytics
Enhanced Communication & Collaboration
Centralised Data Management
EHS software provides a centralised repository for storing all safety-related documentation, including policies, procedures, training records, incident reports, evidence like photos and videos, inspection reports, action plans and risk assessments. This ensures easy access to critical information during inspections and audits.
Streamlined Incident Reporting and Management
In the event of an accident or near-miss, EHS software facilitates quick and accurate incident reporting. Employees can easily submit reports through the software, triggering automated workflows for investigation and corrective action.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation
EHS software typically includes tools for conducting risk assessments and identifying potential hazards in the workplace. By systematically evaluating risks and implementing mitigation measures, you can proactively address safety concerns before they escalate.
Real Time Data Analytics
EHS software typically enables you to automatically calculate and track a number of health and safety metrics like number of incidents, frequency rate, severity rates, lost time, near misses, inspection scores, on time completion of inspections, risk scores etc. This reduces the amount of manual effort required to prepare these and helps companies track progress over time.
Enhanced Communication and Collaboration
Many EHS software solutions offer communication and collaboration features that facilitate engagement among employees, safety committees, and management. This promotes a culture of safety and encourages proactive participation in the inspection preparation process.
How to choose your EHS solution
When considering EHS software solutions, look for user-friendly interfaces, customisable features to suit your specific needs, and robust reporting capabilities. Keep in mind that while EHS software can streamline your preparation efforts, it should complement—not replace—your existing safety management processes and practices.
How to Follow Up on Inspection Findings
After the inspection, carefully review the inspector's findings and recommendations. Take prompt action to address any deficiencies or non-compliance issues identified.
Document the corrective measures taken and follow up to ensure that they are effectively implemented. Continuous improvement is key to maintaining a safe and compliant workplace.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can streamline the preparation process, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Remember, prioritising health and safety isn't just about passing inspections, it's about protecting your most valuable asset: your employees.
Comments