Towards the end of 2022, I suggested that it may be prudent to review the new WISH guidance documents published at the end of Summer.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the inspectors are in fact following these updated WISH guidance documents to inform their inspections. If you’ve not checked them out yet, you may want to give it some serious consideration before the HSE arrive at your site:
- WASTE 29 (Practical isolation and lock-off guidance)
- INFO 20 - Machinery safety (Belt conveyors)
- INFO 21 – Machinery safety (Trommel screens)
- INFO 22 – Machinery safety (Horizontal plane balers)
Further guidance has been produced by the HSE in the form of a downloadable leaflet called ‘What to expect when a health and safety inspector calls’
Publication: What to expect when an inspector calls - HSE
Following discussions I’ve had with the HSE, it is clear they are keen to work more collaboratively with our sector; I can’t help but feel that engagement with the local authority sector has not been particularly strong in recent years. I understand that engaging with the HSE may be a scary concept for many but we must not lose sight of the variety of support, advice and guidance documentation publicly available to us, highlighting the key focus areas for the HSE to ultimately reduce the number accidents and fatalities.
The WISH forum have indicated that there was been significant improvement in reducing fatalities by as much as 83% between 1997 and 2016. Whilst it’s extremely positive to hear the overall reduction in fatalities in the waste sector (123 down from 142 in 2021/21), The latest statistics on work-related health and safety in Great Britain, published 23 November 2022, confirmed the number of RIDDORs had increased from 51,211 in 2020/21 to 61,713 in 2021/22.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the number or RIDDORS reported in the public sector are increasing. In fact, they are proportionately higher than those reported in the private sector. In addition to the increase in RIDDORs, the number of working people who sustained an injury at work according to the Labour Force Survey has also increased from 400,000 in 2020/21 to 565,000 in 2021/22.
The bottom line? Fatality rates are decreasing but accident rates are increasing, although we must remember that the industry workforce was impacted by the pandemic and furlough arrangements in 2020/21, which makes it very difficult to provide a true and fair comparison!
