HSE Wants to Make LAs Aware of Their Legal Responsibilities
HSE has released a guidance outlining the legal obligations of Local Authorities with regard to securing management contracts for waste and recycling.
The main objective behind the release of the guidance is to lessen workplace mishaps and casualties in the waste and recycling sector. This sector is notorious for its frequency of accidents and mishaps, and many workers are either injured or killed.
HSE attributes the alarming levels of deaths and injuries to a vague understanding of legal responsibilities on the part of LAs. The LAs have an erroneous belief that giving a particular service to a company on contract makes them free of all necessary obligations towards workers’ health and safety.
The guidance is available on the internet and it instructs LAs on how to include health and safety in matters pertaining to bagging/negotiating new contracts.
A number of localized events will be conducted by HSE that will spread awareness about the guidance among LA members. These events will also address management problems faced by the LAs.
HSE Chair Judith Hackitt, in one such event that was conducted recently, said that the guidance will give LAs a clear picture of what they have to do for negotiating with contractors who secure waste and recycling projects. Hackitt added that the mission of HSE is to make health and safety for workers a prime focus for both LAs and contractors when they are negotiating a contract.
As part of its mission, HSE will start examining and inspecting LA departments that cater to waste services. These inspections will commence later this year.
The integration of good health and safety management systems is an essential principle of any business. Companies need to be sure that they are giving the correct instructions to employees with regard to health and safety issues. An IOSH Course, accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, from Workplace Law are designed to give managers and supervisors all they need to know to help their organisation find the best ways to lead and promote health and safety.
