HSE Business Plan 2021/22

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HSE Business Plan 2021/22
HSE Business Plan
2021/22
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
The challenge                  How we are tackling it
                                  169,488
         Ensuring                 COVID-19 compliance
         workplaces are           spot checks*
         COVID-secure
                                  9.5 million+
                                  COVID guidance: webpage
         13,000                   views with a 78% user
         Occupational             satisfaction rating*
         disease deaths each
         year linked to past      6263
         exposures at work        Investigations

         1.6 million              2754
                                  Enforcement notices issued
         Workers suffering
         from work-related
         illness                  178
                                  Prosecution cases heard

         111                      95%
                                  Success rate for convictions
         People killed
         at work
                                  90%
                                  Dutyholders who took action
                                  following inspection
         65,427
         Employee non-fatal       854
         injuries reported        Major hazard sites contacted
                                  or visited

                                  259
         38.8 million             Biocide applications evaluated
         Working days lost
                                  986
                                  Pesticide applications evaluated

         £16.2 billion            12,973
                                  Concerns about workplaces
         Cost to Britain
                                  followed up or investigated

                                  *Year to date (YTD) figures 2020/21

                                           HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 3
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Introduction

W     e are facing the biggest global health
      challenge of our generation and HSE
is playing its part in reducing the risks of
                                                        channels and technologies to improve our reach,
                                                        engage in a digital space and influence behaviours.
                                                        Our guidance, communication and engagement give
COVID-19 in the workplace. Our purpose                  employers the confidence to manage risk correctly,
to prevent work-related death, injury and ill           help to boost productivity, support the economy, and
                                                        contribute to a fairer society.
health is even more valid than ever.
                                                        We will continue to apply a range of proactive
Over time, our role has broadened beyond worker         regulatory approaches to improve health and safety,
protection to encompass public safety assurance on      combining interventions to achieve a bigger impact.
a wide range of issues. These include:                  Our end-to-end approach combines strategic
● enabling business to better manage risk for           planning with evidenced objectives and business
  themselves;                                           insight, using blended interventions (communication,
● protecting the environment;                           inspection and partnership activity) that focus on
                                                        enhancing end-user behaviours.
● ensuring critical national infrastructure functions
  safely through our major hazard permissioning         In doing so, we test, learn from and adapt our
  approaches; and                                       interventions to optimise our impact. Examples of our
                                                        proactive interventions include our work in reducing
● our work on cyber security.                           risk of exposure to carcinogens and asthmagens
Our work in supporting the government on                associated with welding fumes. Our successful
COVID-19 is a continuation of our trusted role as a     stress ‘talking toolkit’ has helped employers support
proportionate and enabling regulator.                   their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
The year ahead will be significant in supporting        and will be further enhanced this year for the
government-wide activities, including developing        construction industry and the emergency services.
new processes as we work towards a full operating       We lead the way but we do not act alone. Working
capability for UK chemicals, product safety and civil   in partnership is one of our strengths and is at the
explosives. This follows our successful achievement     heart of how we protect workers and the public. We
of establishing a standalone GB chemicals regulator     concentrate on the most serious risks and target
on 1 January 2021. We will also be enhancing            industries with the greatest hazards, and sectors
our IT and digital infrastructure to support major      with the worst risk management record.
programmes of activity.                                 We significantly increase our reach, influence and
This will also be a defining year for HSE as we         impact by working with industry, trade associations,
develop and set out our new 10-year strategy and        professional bodies, trade unions and others who
revised mission and vision. It will look at how we      can promote health and safety standards. One of our
respond to future regulatory challenges and ensure      many successful forums is the Construction Industry
our resources and processes are organised to deliver    Advisory Committee (CONIAC). This works to bring
our ambition. We continue to influence and engage       about improvements in health and safety standards
stakeholders, create knowledge and awareness of         in the construction industry through promoting good
workplace health and safety risk, and encourage         practice and providing sector-specific information
behaviour change.                                       and guidance.
As outlined in the infographic on the previous page,    We are firm and fair when using our legal powers.
we apply a range of proactive regulatory tools          Inspection helps us check that serious risks are
to improve health and safety, bringing together         managed sensibly, and we can measure our impact
different interventions to achieve impact. We are       through our surveys. These indicate that 90% of
proud of the support we provide to businesses           businesses take action following a visit from HSE.
and will continue to expand this through our user-      When things go wrong, investigation helps us get to
centric web guidance and advice, using all available    the truth and learn lessons. We will continue to hold

4 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
employers to account for their failures and secure         on reducing harm. We will continue to tackle
justice for victims and their families while making        long-standing problems, such as work-related ill
workplaces safer.                                          health and falls from height, while helping smaller
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have                  businesses manage risks proportionately and
played a critical role in the national response, helping   sensibly, with improved guidance and support.
to reduce the level of transmission as well as support     The world of work is evolving and, as part of Build
the country’s economic recovery as restrictions            Back Greener, we will support the delivery of the
are eased. In 2021/22 we plan to continue our              government’s 10-point plan for a green industrial
intelligence-led COVID compliance spot checks. We          revolution and a safe transition to a carbon-
have already achieved over 10.5 million webpage            neutral economy. We will also be working with the
views of our user-centred, COVID-specific guidance,        government and other stakeholders on new and
which has an impressive 78% usefulness rating.             emerging technologies in the workplace to reduce
We have developed a supporting communications              risk from activities such as 3D printing, artificial
campaign, HSE ‘Work Right’, which will build on the        intelligence and the use of drones.
extensive reach we have achieved to date and focus         The response to COVID-19 has accelerated the pace
on building public confidence.                             of collaboration across the public sector and we will
Our science, engineering and analytical capability         continue to work with other regulators and stakeholders
complements our policy and operational activities.         where our interests align. This plan contains some of
It is internationally recognised in developing and         the positive feedback received for our collaborative
supporting practical solutions to workplace health         work on COVID compliance spot checks.
and safety problems. This is demonstrated through          We recognise the uncertainty in setting out our
our leadership of the National Core Programme              plan at this time, but remain confident that we can
on COVID transmission research in 2021/22. Our             respond with agility if we need to redirect resources
commercial work is fully aligned to our purpose and        as we have during the pandemic. However, that may
is a further proactive intervention which positively       impact some of the targets and deliverables.
impacts workplace health and safety outcomes.
                                                           The world and our approach may change, but one
In January 2020, the government asked us to                thing remains the same – the commitment of those
establish a new Building Safety Regulator (BSR)            who work for HSE to reduce risk, protect people and
after the Grenfell Tower disaster and following            the environment and to save lives. We are extremely
recommendations in the Building a Safer Future             proud of the way our colleagues are responding to
report by Dame Judith Hackitt.                             the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic and
We have worked closely with government to                  are privileged to lead them as we deliver on the
establish BSR. This involved:                              commitments outlined in this plan.
● putting programme governance in place;
● an increase in capability, including appointing a
  Chief Inspector of Buildings; and
● securing funding through the spending review
  2020 process.
As part of Build Back Fairer, we will continue to
develop an effective BSR during 2021/22 – working
with other regulators, stakeholders and resident
groups to implement a new regulatory system for the
safety and standards of buildings in England.
Our work builds on the sound regulatory framework          Sarah Newton                   Sarah Albon
HSE has helped develop and our relentless focus            Chair                          Chief Executive

                                                                          HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 5
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Contents

 7		   Our plan on a page
12		   Lead and engage with others to improve workplace health and safety
16		   Provide an effective regulatory framework
21		   Secure effective management and control of risk
29		   Reduce the likelihood of low-frequency, high-impact catastrophic incidents
32		   Enable improvement through efficient and effective delivery
37		   Financial outlook for 2021/22
38		   Monitoring our delivery

6 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Our plan on a page

                               Our mission:
       The prevention of death, injury and ill health to those at work
                  and those affected by work activities

                                            Our objectives
Lead and engage            Provide an                  Secure effective           Reduce the likelihood
with others to improve     effective regulatory        management and             of low-frequency,
workplace health           framework                   control of risk            high-impact
and safety                                                                        catastrophic incidents

                                    Our priorities for 2021/22
● Continue to focus        ● Establish the             ● Carry out spot           ● Provide assurance
our activity on tackling   Building Safety             checks and inspections     that dutyholders
ill health as part of      Regulator in shadow         to ensure workplaces       are identifying and
the Health and Work        form ahead of legislation   are COVID-secure for       managing the major
programme                  ● As part of the            workers and the public     hazard risks they create
● Engage and               transition period,          ● Target our inspections   ● Strengthen major
collaborate on the         establish the full          on specific issues and     hazard leadership and
learning from our expert   operating capability of     activities, including      worker engagement
science and research       a new UK chemical           a sustained focus on       ● Deliver robust and
with those who can         regime                      work-related ill health    consistent regulation
influence workplace        ● Prepare and               ● Investigate to swiftly   of decommissioning
health and safety          contribute to the Energy    tackle and reduce risks,   and dismantlement of
performance                Transition (Net Zero)       securing accountability    offshore oil and gas
● Embed learning on        government priority         for victims and their      infrastructure
business to business       and development of the      families                   ● Raise operators’
burdens into policy        renewables sector           ● Operate effective        focus on cyber security
design                                                 statutory schemes,         to ensure appropriate
                                                       ensuring the safe use      protection against major
                                                       of potentially harmful     incidents
                                                       substances

        Enable improvement through efficient and effective delivery

                                             Our enablers
● Invest in our infrastructure      ● Support our people to be            ● Secure a sustainable financial
focusing on IT to ensure we are     the best they can by improving        future for HSE by improving
fit for the future                  inclusion and wellbeing               performance through data

                                                                        HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 7
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Summary of milestone delivery

Our areas of focus and milestone deliverables in the plan can be
summarised as follows:

Lead and engage with others                             Provide an effective regulatory framework
to improve workplace health and safety

Continue to focus our activity on tackling ill health   Establish the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) in
as part of the Health and Work programme                shadow form ahead of legislation
● Establish a ‘round table’ of health and work          ● Establish an Interim Residents’ Panel to shape
  influencers                                             the approach to resident engagement
● Deliver a health and work summit to promote           ● Establish Interim Competence Committee
  actions to address work-related ill health            ● Implement gateway reforms for higher-risk
● Develop partnership agreement with Public               buildings (HRBs) operating as a statutory
  Health Scotland                                         consultee
● Launch new musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)           ● Complete transition discovery working with
  digital risk assessment toolbox for employers           residents, dutyholders and co-regulators
● Promote advice on MSDs through Risk Reduction         ● Publish proposals for oversight of Building
  Through Design Award                                    Control Bodies
● Deliver targeted communications on local              ● Deliver targeted stakeholder engagement strategy
  exhaust ventilation                                   ● Develop draft operational and enforcement
● Adapt our generic stress ‘talking toolkit’ for the      policies, procedures and guidance
  construction industry and the emergency services
                                                        Following the UK transition period, work towards
● Launch work-related stress app for SMEs
                                                        establishing the full operating capability for
Engage and collaborate on the learning from our         chemicals, product safety and explosives
expert science and research with those who can          ● Deliver year 1 transformation programme for the
influence health and safety improvement                   UK biocides and pesticides regimes
● Launch our live online training and conferences       ● Develop product safety intelligence to deliver
  offering                                                expanded regulatory role
● Make 50% of our current training portfolio            ● Deliver an Explosives Approved Body by building
  available in a virtual environment                      capacity and capability
● Deliver a virtual conference in one of the four
                                                        Support the delivery of the government’s 10-point
  government priority areas
                                                        plan for a green industrial revolution and safe
● Deliver an agreed programme of work under the         transition to a carbon-neutral economy
  ‘PROTECT’ National COVID-19 study
                                                        ● Agree future partnership with the Department for
                                                          Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
                                                        ● Agree policy on future net zero
                                                        ● Assess safety of trials for new hydrogen
                                                          technologies
                                                        ● Assure the Hydrogen Grid Research and
                                                          Development Programme

8 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Secure effective management
                                                    and control of risk

                                                    Undertake spot checks and inspections,
                                                    supporting local authorities, to ensure workplaces
                                                    are COVID-secure
                                                    ● Procure and mobilise external partners to deliver
                                                      approximately 100,000 compliance spot checks
                                                    ● Undertake full review of resourcing approach and
                                                      consider alternative delivery models
                                                    ● Undertake review of current service to identify
                                                      improvements
Ensure the health and safety regulatory framework   ● Through design, identify digital options to
remains proportionate, targeted and delivers          improve case and performance management
optimal regulatory outcomes
● Develop shared solutions to tackle business       Target our interventions on specific issues
  burdens from non-regulatory health and safety     including work-related ill health
  rules                                             ● Undertake a planned programme of proactive
● Amend Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)           intervention, which includes specific emphasis
  Regulations                                         on:
                                                      − control of welding fumes and metalworking
● Undertake post-implementation review of
                                                          fluids;
  Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Regulations
                                                      − agreeing a framework with Advanced
● Revise Gas Safety Regulations                           Manufacturing Forum (AMF) to reduce risk and
● Implement International Atomic Energy Agency            ensure safety;
  (IAEA) recommendations for ionising radiation       − healthcare, focusing on violence and
  protection                                              aggression and manual handling;
                                                      − agriculture;
                                                      − one major respiratory health-focused
                                                          construction initiative;
                                                      − fixed and travelling fairgrounds.

                                                    Investigate to swiftly tackle and reduce risks,
                                                    securing accountability for victims and families
                                                    ● Complete 80% of fatal investigations with 12
                                                      months of primacy
                                                    ● Complete 90% of non-fatal investigations within
                                                      12 months

                                                                  HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 9
HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Reduce the likelihood of low-frequency, high-
                                                     impact catastrophic incidents

                                                     Provide assurances that dutyholders are identifying
                                                     and managing the major hazard risks they create
                                                     ● A programme of inspections to address priority
                                                       areas at major hazard sites
                                                     ● Assess 75% of safety cases and reports to
                                                       agreed timescales
                                                     ● Assess licences, classifications, notifications and
                                                       authorisations to timescales

Operate effective statutory schemes, ensuring the    Strengthen major hazard leadership and worker
safe use of potentially harmful substances           engagement
● Complete 80% of plant protection product           ● Complete a targeted programme of interventions
  evaluations and authorisations to time               focused on process safety leadership principles
● Complete 80% of biocide product evaluations        Raise operators’ focus on cyber security to ensure
  and authorisations to time                         appropriate protection against major incidents
● Programme of inspections to ensure compliance      ● Complete a programme of inspections at targeted
  with Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations         major hazard sites to assess risks that may
● 90% of asbestos licence applications completed       impact industrial control systems
  to time                                            ● Complete a programme of inspections at sites
● Publish post-implementation review of Control of     of essential services as defined by Network
  Asbestos at Work Regulations                         Information Systems (NIS) Regulations

10 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Enable improvement through efficient and
effective delivery

Develop a 10-year strategy and supporting target
operating model
● Develop and agree mission/vision/values and
  strategic objectives
● Develop and agree supporting target operating
  model and sub-strategies
● Determine future, flexible, hybrid working
  arrangements

Invest in our infrastructure, focusing on IT, to      Secure a sustainable financial future for HSE
ensure we are fit for the future                      by improving performance through data and
● Establish a test and development environment for    assurance
  biocides and pesticides regimes, and BSR            ● Develop our Spending Review 2021 case
● Insource external IT provider                       ● Consult on cost recovery proposals and put
● Develop a modern web strategy                         enabling legislation in place
● Complete user needs analysis to inform Buxton       ● Develop shadow performance measures to focus
  IT infrastructure                                     regulatory utilisation
● Complete required office moves                      ● Recruit new assurance roles to build capacity and
                                                        capability
● Replace wide area network
                                                      ● Establish a programme to replace the HR,
Support our people to be the best they can by           Finance and Procurement shared services and
improving inclusion and wellbeing                       operating platform
● Embed arrangements for promoting wellbeing
  and prevention of mental ill health
● Reduce average working days lost (AWDL) to 5.5
  days per full-time equivalent (6 days in 2020/21)
● Deliver a programme of leadership events
● Hold all-staff events
● Achieve an Engagement Index score of 61% (4%
  improvement)
● Develop an agreed, robust and evidence-based
  pay business case
● Reduce instances of bullying and harassment by
  10%

                                                                   HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 11
Lead and engage with others
to improve workplace health and safety

T  he Helping Great Britain (GB) work well
   strategy1 recognises a need for broad
ownership of workplace health and safety.
                                                               employees and employers, trade unions,
                                                               industry associations, professional institutions
                                                               and third-sector bodies, alongside other
Anyone who carries out or influences                           government agencies and regulators;
workplace activities or behaviours has a                    ● audience-focused research and insight to
key role. We are committed to playing our                     evidence, target and tailor interventions to our
part in enabling others to create healthier,                  users’ needs and context;
safer workplaces and, through our expertise,                ● specific, insight-led behaviour change
reduce the cost of workplace injury and ill                   campaigns to achieve tangible improvements
health to the economy while helping improve                   in awareness and action on the key issues
productivity.                                                 and themes set out in our health and safety
We have a key role in advising the GB and                     strategies;
devolved governments’ wider health and work                 ● guidance and advice which is accessible,
priorities. As the governments’ chief occupational            understandable, meets the needs of users, and
health adviser, we have expertise in the causes of            encourages proportionate risk management;
work-related ill health,2 and the measures which              and
can prevent or minimise it. However, the health
of the working population is not solely related to          ● world-class science and evidence to support
workplace conditions.                                         our regulatory activities. We will provide
                                                              routes to enable others (such as government
Our aim is to reduce work-related ill health through          departments, public and private sector
the application and enforcement of workplace                  organisations) to access our know-how,
health and safety legislation, and by supporting              specialist facilities and research to improve
and seeking to influence wider health interventions           workplace health and safety performance.
where they are linked with work and employment.
For example, we provide advice to the joint Work            We continue to work closely with local authorities
and Health Unit at the Department for Work and              as co-regulators. Our joint LA/HSE Statement of
Pensions and Department of Health and Social                Commitment sets out the shared vision for the
Care.                                                       ongoing co-regulatory partnership. This describes
                                                            how working together – as effective, modern and
We see opportunities in bringing our expertise to           professional regulators – will secure the positive
work with others across government departmental             benefits of world-leading workplace health and
boundaries to address national issues, for example          safety.
improving health outcomes as described in the
NHS long-term plan (for England).
As well as tailoring direct interventions with
individual businesses to achieve behavioural                   Our priorities for 2021/22
change, we provide:
                                                            ● Continue to focus our activity on tackling
● focused engagement and collaboration across                 ill health as part of the Health and Work
  networks with a strong interest in improving                programme
  work-related health and safety. This includes
                                                            ● Engage and collaborate on the learning from
                                                              our expert science and research with those
                                                              who can influence workplace health and
1   www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/index.htm       safety improvement
2   www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/health-and-
    work-strategy/health-and-work-strategy.pdf

12 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Priority: Continue to focus our activity on tackling ill health as part of
the Health and Work programme

Overall approach to ill health
● 2021/22 marks the fifth year of our Health and
  Work strategy and our continued focus on
  tackling three major causes of work-related
  ill health – musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs),
  occupational lung disease (OLD) and work-
  related stress (WRS).
● We will focus on our health and work priority
  areas and support the government’s current
  and post-COVID recovery, by providing targeted
  advice, guidance and tools to help employers
  support their employees’ health at work.
● Our success will be measured through overall            Musculoskeletal disorders
  changes in attitudes, behaviour and use of              MSDs are the second most common reported cause
  control measures.                                       of work-related ill health in Great Britain, accounting
● We will continue to build collaborative                 for 30% of all cases and 27% of all working days
  relationships with other parts of government, and       lost due to ill health.
  public health and industry groups in England,           Our work in 2021/22 continues to build on that from
  Scotland and Wales. Joining up our approaches           previous years and inform future years’ activity. Our
  to health and work will help deliver improved           insight work has identified further demand for digital
  outcomes for employers and workers.                     risk assessments.

 Our deliverables                                          Our deliverables
 Our aim is to increase the reach of our messages on       Launch the new MSD digital risk                 Q2
 the tangible and simple steps employers can take          assessment toolbox for employers
 to tackle work-related ill health. We will work across
 government, and with key stakeholders, influencers        Deliver and promote advice on MSDs              Q4
 and experts, to contribute our expertise for the wider    through the Risk Reduction Through Design
 benefit of employers and workers through:                 Award

 ● Establishing a ‘round table’ of health and     Q4
   work influencers’ to support partnership
   communications with SMEs and
   representative groups
 ● Delivering a health and work summit to         Q4
   provide shared learning and promote
   tangible actions employers can take to
   address work-related ill health
 ● Develop a partnership agreement with           Q4
   Public Health Scotland and a forum with
   health-related Scottish regulators

                                                                        HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 13
Occupational lung disease                              Work-related stress
Occupational respiratory disease is estimated to       Stress, depression or anxiety is the most commonly
result in approximately 12,000 deaths each year.       reported cause of work-related ill health in Great
Our work in 2021/22 focuses on reducing exposure       Britain, accounting for 51% of all cases, and 55% of
to carcinogens and asthmagens, through using           all working days lost due to ill health.
integrated intervention campaigns, with a particular   Our focus is on providing practical advice and
emphasis on reducing lung disease risks in metal       appropriate tools to support the prevention and
working.                                               management of stress.
Building on our success in influencing behaviours in   Our successful stress ‘talking toolkit’ has already
metalworking fluids, we have identified the need for   been adapted to help employers support workers
a greater industry understanding of effective local    during the COVID-19 pandemic and will be further
exhaust ventilation systems and how they protect       enhanced for emergency services, where work-
health.                                                related stress is a major issue.

 Our deliverables                                       Our deliverables
 ● Deliver targeted communications activity    Q4
                                                        ● Adapt our stress ‘talking toolkit’,         Q3
   focusing on effective local exhaust                    engaging with emergency services
   ventilation                                            partners so they can input on design
                                                          and delivery
                                                        ● Launch a work-related stress app to         Q1
                                                          support SMEs

14 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Priority: Engage and collaborate on the learning from our expert science and
research with those who can influence health and safety improvement

We will use the approach outlined in our Science and     We have also made progress in delivering our
Evidence strategy,3 to deliver the work set out in our   training content given the challenges of the global
Science and Evidence Delivery (2020-2023).               COVID-19 pandemic. We have adapted to the new
We will focus on four main areas which align with        environment and delivered our training through a
government priorities:                                   more modular e-learning model and will make further
                                                         training available. We have also worked with our
● Delivery of safe net zero                              partner The Stationery Office (TSO) to successfully
● Ensuring Resilient Infrastructure                      launch a mobile application. This makes guidance
● Healthy Working Lives                                  and publications available in a mobile-friendly
                                                         format, providing links to other bespoke products
● Creating intelligence from data                        and services.
We will lead the ‘PROTECT’ project (Partnership
for Research into Occupational, Transport and
Environmental COVID Transmission), one of seven
                                                          Our deliverables
National Core Programmes on COVID-19. We will
ensure that knowledge generated is shared with key        ● We will launch our live online training     Q2
stakeholders.                                               and conferences offering, enabling us to
                                                            deliver a variety of content to different
We will build on the significant progress in                audiences utilising technology to meet
developing our relationship across government               customer expectations
in order to support the key national priority areas
listed above. This includes the successful delivery
                                                          ● We will make 50% of our current face-       Q4
                                                            to-face training portfolio available in a
of a programme of work for BEIS to address the              virtual environment
challenges of utilising hydrogen for heating purposes
in Great Britain.
                                                          ● We will deliver at least one virtual        Q4
                                                            conference in main areas of focus of
We have continued to develop our relationship with          either net zero or intelligence from data
the Office for Products Safety and Standards (OPSS)
and are supporting their produce safety remit in
                                                          ● Working with our partners we will lead      Q4
                                                            the delivery of an agreed programme
several key areas including market surveillance of          of work under the ‘PROTECT’ National
cosmetic products, noise and performance testing of         COVID-19 partnership
fireworks, 3D printing and battery safety.

3   www.hse.gov.uk/research/content/science-evidence-
    strategy-1620.pdf

                                                                      HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 15
Provide an effective
regulatory framework

G    ood regulation is essential to successful
     businesses, and HSE will be working to
achieve the right regulatory balance between
                                                        We have a significant role in helping the
                                                        government deliver its net zero priority and
                                                        10-point plan. Our focus for 2021/22 is to:
supporting excellent business practice and              ● work across government and review HSE’s
protecting workers, the public and aspects                regulatory framework as it applies to current
of the environment. The goal setting and risk-            and future net zero activity; and
based regulatory framework is founded on
                                                        ● identify the policy, regulatory, operational and
two enduring principles:                                  evidential steps that will need to be met to
● those who create risks have a responsibility to         support the innovation and development of new
  manage them; and                                        technology during the transition to net zero.
● action should be proportionate to the risks that      We look for opportunities to reform and modernise
  need managing.                                        our regulatory framework to ensure the regulation
                                                        is smarter, better targeted and less costly to
To complement this, we will support businesses          business. This will include challenging business-
by sharing examples of good practice, helping           to-business burdens to help ensure that workplace
to build a common understanding of what a               health and safety works as an enabler, not a
proportionate management approach to workplace          barrier, to innovation, trade and growth.
health and safety looks like.
During 2020/21 we have made extensive
contributions to the government’s fundamental
reform of the building safety system following             Our priorities for 2021/22
the Grenfell Tower disaster. We have developed
a programme to establish BSR in HSE and this            ● Continue to establish BSR within HSE, initially in
has progressed well. Capability has increased             shadow form ahead of the required legislation
during the year with programme governance and           ● Following the end of the transition period,
infrastructure in place. We will continue to engage       work towards establishing the full operating
with the devolved administrations on building             capability for UK chemicals, product safety and
safety.                                                   explosives
On 31 January 2020, the UK left the EU and              ● Support the delivery of the government’s
entered a transition period until 31 December 2020.       10-point plan for a green industrial revolution
During this transition period we delivered Day 1          and a safe transition to a carbon-neutral
readiness for regulating UK chemicals, product            economy
safety and explosives. Our focus for 2021/22,
supported by a successful spending review bid,          ● Ensure the health and safety regulatory
is to initiate a programme of work to deliver full        framework remains proportionate, targeted and
operating capability. This will enable HSE to deliver     delivers optimal regulatory outcomes
an effective and efficient regulatory service for
chemicals, product safety and explosives.

16 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Priority: Continue to establish BSR in HSE, initially in shadow form ahead of the
required legislation

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the                 ● supported over 44 stakeholder events reaching
government committed to introduce radical reforms           over 8,000 stakeholders, leaders and professional
of the building safety system following Dame                bodies, reached just over 5 million individuals
Judith Hackitt’s independent review of building             about HSE’s future BSR role through social
regulation and fire safety. At the heart of the reforms     media channels, and signed up nearly 6,000
is the creation of a new Building Safety Regulator          organisations to our regular BSR updates; and
(BSR). On 20 January 2020, the Housing Secretary          ● supported local authorities and Fire and Rescue
announced that BSR would be established within              Services to progress cladding remediation and
HSE.                                                        the prioritisation of existing buildings through the
BSR will have three key functions:                          Fire Protection Board.
● leading the implementation of the new, more             The BSR transition is an ambitious multi-year
  stringent regulatory regime for higher-risk             programme of transformation aligned with the
  residential buildings in scope;                         planned implementation from 2023 of MHCLG’s
● promoting competence among industry                     building safety legislative reforms. It comprises
  professionals and regulators who have key roles         a number of programme and other deliverables
  in delivering safe, high-performing buildings; and      overseen by the BSR Programme Board.

● oversight of the building safety and performance
  system.
                                                           Our deliverables
During 2020/21, HSE has made substantial progress.
We have:                                                   ● Establish an Interim Residents’ Panel        Q1
                                                             to advise and shape the approach to
● supported the Ministry of Housing, Communities             resident engagement
  and Local Government (MHCLG) to publish a
  draft Building Safety Bill in July 2020;                 ● Establish an Interim Competence              Q1
                                                             Committee to support a consistent
● created a Building Safety and Construction                 approach to building safety competence
  Division in HSE to bring HSE’s construction                standards
  operations together with the work to establish
  BSR;
                                                           ● Implement the Gateway reforms for            Q2
                                                             planning applications for higher-risk
● appointed the first Chief Inspector of Buildings to        buildings with HSE operating as a
                                                             Statutory Consultee
  establish and lead BSR;
● established the BSR transition programme                 ● Complete transition discovery working        Q3
                                                             with residents, dutyholders and co-
  with robust governance and management                      regulators
  arrangements, and with now over 100 people
  dedicated to the delivery of BSR;                        ● Publish proposals for oversight of           Q3
                                                             Building Control Bodies
● taken on leadership of the Joint Regulators’
  Group and worked with partner regulators,                ● Deliver targeted stakeholder engagement      Q4
  early adopter organisations, and design trial              strategy to prepare for new regime
  participants to produce an early guide for               ● Develop draft operational and                Q4
  landlords and building owners on the principles            enforcement policies, procedures and
  of safety cases, enabling them to prepare for the          guidance to deliver Gateway building
  new regulatory regime;                                     control functions

                                                                        HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 17
Priority: Following the end of the transition period, work towards establishing the
full operating capability for chemicals, product safety and explosives

A new relationship was agreed with the EU on
                                                           Our deliverables
24 December 2020. The Trade and Cooperation
Agreement (TCA) sits alongside the Withdrawal              ● Deliver year 1 transformation programme   Q4
Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol.                 for UK biocides and pesticides regimes
The TCA provides for a zero tariff and zero quotas
agreement and is implemented in our domestic law by
                                                           ● Develop product safety intelligence to    Q4
                                                             deliver expanded regulatory role
the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020.
The TCA contains joint commitments to maintain
                                                           ● Deliver an Explosives Approved Body       Q3
                                                             by building capacity and capability
high standards of protection and to prevent                  informed by customer insight and
distortions in trade but this does not prevent               market design
independent regulatory action by the UK in the
future.
The TCA also contains a chemicals annex. This
focuses on regulatory cooperation between the
UK and the EU. It does not constrain independent
regulatory action by the UK.
During 2020/21 we have delivered an extensive
programme of work which successfully delivered
interim operating capability for 1 January 2021.
For 2021/22 we will initiate a programme of work to
develop our full operating capability, enabling HSE to
deliver effective and efficient regulatory services for
chemicals, product safety and explosives. This will
include support for Northern Ireland as part of the
UK internal market.
We will also deliver the first-year operational plan for
GB chemicals regimes as the national independent
GB regulator and support Northern Ireland as part of
the UK internal market.

18 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Priority: Support the delivery of the government’s 10-point plan for a
green industrial revolution and a safe transition to a carbon-neutral economy

The 10-point plan4 for a green industrial revolution         We will work with other government departments
is a significant step in government efforts to deliver       on their net zero programmes to ensure a joined-up
the UK’s public and legal commitment of achieving            approach to regulation, with the focus on safety
net zero greenhouse gas, including carbon dioxide            where it is needed.
emissions, by 2050 (2045 in Scotland).
We are already active in several net zero programmes,
particularly in the energy sector. Offshore wind              Our deliverables
generation (and other renewable energy sources),
driving the growth of low carbon hydrogen and                 ● Agree future partnership with BEIS         Q2
investing in carbon capture, utilisation and storage,
is already requiring significant policy, regulatory
                                                              ● Develop and agree our policy and           Q2
                                                                operational position on current and
and operational activity from HSE and collaborative             future net zero activity
working with other government departments.
                                                              ● Commence work with BEIS to assess          Q4
However, there will be both direct and indirect                 the safety of trials for proposed new
impacts on HSE from other parts of the 10-point plan.           hydrogen technologies using our
The development of greener building technologies,               science, policy and regulatory expertise
the decarbonisation of industry and the growth of             ● Work with BEIS and industry to assure      Q4
innovative battery technologies will all change the             that the Hydrogen Grid Research and
profile of risks that require managing in future.               Development Programme (HyGrid)
                                                                encompasses appropriate consideration
Achieving net zero goals will require incremental               of worker and public health and safety
progress over the long term. Our focus for 2021/22 is
to review HSE’s regulatory framework as it applies to
current and future net zero activity – identifying the
policy, regulatory, operational and evidential steps
needed to support the innovation and development
of new technology during the transition to net zero.
This will build on the success of our science work in
addressing the challenges of hydrogen for heating
purposes in Great Britain.

4   www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ten-point-plan-
    for-a-green-industrial-revolution/title#introduction

                                                                          HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 19
Priority: Ensure the health and safety regulatory framework remains proportionate,
targeted and delivers optimal regulatory outcomes

HSE continues to play its part in supporting the
                                                       Our deliverables
government’s Better Regulation agenda, ensuring we
support innovation, introduction of new technology     ● Work with business bodies to develop       Q4
and enabling improvements in productivity. Our           shared solutions and messaging to
regulatory framework is maintained in line with          tackle the burdens identified in HSE’s
                                                         report into non-regulatory health and
the government’s Better Regulation principles            safety rules
(targeted, proportionate, consistent, transparent
and accountable).                                      ● Carry out amendments to the Personal       Q3
                                                         Protective Equipment Regulations
We look for opportunities to reform and                  to implement the outcomes of the
modernise our regulatory framework to ensure it          December 2020 judicial review ruling
is proportionate, better targeted and less costly to
business. This will include challenging business-
                                                       ● Undertake a Post Implementation            Q2
                                                         Review of The Control of Electromagnetic
to-business burdens to help ensure that workplace        Fields at Work Regulations
health and safety not only provides protection but
is an enabler, not a barrier, to innovation, trade     ● Revise the Gas Safety (Management)         Q4
                                                         Regulations
and growth.
Implement the IAEA’s recommendations for
improving ionising radiation protection in
Great Britain.

20 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Secure effective management
and control of risk

O    ne of the foundations of our role as
     a regulator is to secure the effective
management and control of risk. We use
                                                         authorities, to determine causes, learn and share
                                                         lessons and ensure necessary measures are in
                                                         place to prevent recurrence.
different interventions to assess and secure             Where businesses are not managing risks to
effective management and control of                      people’s safety or health, we secure improvements
hazards and remove risk from the workplace.              in line with our enforcement policy and
These include inspections, investigations,               enforcement management model.
permissioning and licensing regimes. Our                 Through proportionate enforcement action,
activities are based on intelligence and                 we seek to prevent harm, secure sustained
targeting in line with published sector                  improvement in managing health and safety risk,
strategies.                                              and hold people to account when they fail to
During the last year, we have been dealing with the      meet their obligations to protect people. Where
COVID-19 pandemic. Industries and sectors that           appropriate, we prosecute those who behave in
were previously considered low risk, from a worker       a reckless way or where there has been a serious
protection or public health and safety perspective,      breach of duty.
are now potentially high risk.                           Our approach supports fairness for those who
In response, during 2020/21 we carried out a             invest appropriately in managing risk and work
programme of around 160,000 interventions to             safely, deterring those businesses who fail to meet
check how businesses implemented measures                their obligations or deliberately break the law and
to reduce transmission of COVID-19. We used a            place people at risk.
blended approach, including virtual inspections          We use data and evidence to better target our
(using IT platforms), spot checks carried out            regulatory work, and amplify the outcomes
by telephone call, and traditional on-site visits        from our frontline inspection, investigation and
amplified through a ‘COVID-Secure’ campaign.             enforcement activity with modern communication
We have secured a further additional £14m for            techniques.
2021/22 and will utilise this to undertake further
compliance spot checks as well as improving the
efficiency of the operation. Our activity will be kept
under review and evolve as required to support the          Our priorities for 2021/22
government’s ambitions in respect of COVID-19
recovery.                                                ● Carry out spot checks and inspections,
                                                           supporting local authorities, to ensure
Our oversight of the chemicals industry enables            workplaces are COVID-secure
the safe and sustainable use of thousands of
chemicals including pesticides and biocides.             ● Target our interventions on specific issues and
Through our work we reduce the potential harm              activities, including a sustained focus on work-
to people or the environment and to maximise the           related ill health
benefits to ensure essential products remain on the      ● Investigate to swiftly tackle and reduce risks,
market and can be used safely.                             securing accountability for victims and their
We investigate incidents, causes of ill health and         families
workplace health and safety concerns (complaints),       ● Operate effective statutory schemes, ensuring
in line with our published selection criteria. We          the safe use of potentially harmful substances
draw upon our science and engineering specialists
and facilities to provide forensic analysis. We also
work with other regulators, the police and local

                                                                      HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 21
Priority: Carry out spot checks and inspections, supporting local authorities,
to ensure workplaces are COVID-secure

During 2020/21 we carried out a programme
of interventions to check how businesses are
implementing measures to prevent the transmission
of COVID-19.
We took a blended approach, including virtual
inspections, spot checks carried out by telephone
call, and traditional on-site visits.
Assurance in respect of the telephone call checks
was validated by sample physical inspections to
ensure regulatory outcomes were consistent.
Using reprioritised resources and the additional
£14.2m funding, to aid the safe return to work and
ensure employers are managing risks posed by           As part of the Spending Review 2020, we have
COVID-19, we:                                          secured further additional funding of £14m for
● assembled a virtual Personal Protective              2021/22 which will be utilised to:
  Equipment (PPE) Unit team to allow government        ● procure and mobilise external partners to deliver
  and industry to make timely, evidence-based            telephone and on-site compliance spot checks.
  decisions about how PPE can be safely and              An initial target of 100,000 checks has been set
  rapidly deployed to help protect workers;              which will be reviewed as pandemic restrictions
● established an inbound enquiry service which           are eased;
  offered COVID-19 advice and guidance for             ● undertake a full review of the whole resourcing
  dutyholders;                                           approach and consider alternative models,
● worked with local authorities to ensure consistent     including wider use of partners and fixed-term
  standards of regulatory activity and undertake         staff; and
  joint campaigns and COVID-secure spot check          ● review the current service to inform service
  activity. This joint working has expanded our          design improvements and support digital
  reach and our leadership and support has been          solutions.
  appreciated, as reflected in the comments
  from businesses and stakeholders on the
  following page;
                                                        Our deliverables
● carried out communications activity through
  multiple channels, ensuring employers have            ● Procure and mobilise external partners        Q1
                                                          to deliver compliance spot checks
  the right guidance and employees feel safe and
  confident that their employer is managing risks       ● Undertake full review of resourcing           Q1
  posed by COVID in the workplace. We have also           approach and consider alternative
                                                          delivery models
  communicated guidance and support on working
  from home;                                            ● Undertake review of the current service       Q2
                                                          to identify improvements
● completed a GB-wide, targeted and proactive
  programme of spot checks to ensure workplaces         ● Through design, identify digital options      Q3
  are COVID-secure and responded to workplace             to improve case and performance
  and localised outbreaks using a blend of                management
  regulatory levers; and
● investigated all COVID-19 concerns.

22 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Feedback on COVID compliance spot checks

        The HSE spot checks helped the council reach out to businesses to ensure
        they were COVID-secure, at a time that the service was really stretched.
        Local authority

        Worthwhile collaborative process which allows LAs to focus resources on
        those businesses who need support.
        Local authority

        The spot check programme is well designed with comprehensive support
        from HSE – it provided us with the confidence to know that our businesses
        were compliant leaving us to resource other areas of COVID security.
        Local authority

        A great example of partnership working during the current pandemic.
        The HSE and LAs working together to increase business awareness and
        compliance, to reduce the risks to public health.
        Local authority

        May I take this opportunity to thank you for all the information provided over
        the last five weeks, I believe the project has been well organised and of value
        to Sefton. Going forward we will be able to utilise the questions, script and
        model to complete further remote interactions with business followed up
        by onsite visits where there have been failures identified.
        Karen Beer – Sefton Council

        Our Chief Exec is pleased with this project, really feels supported by HSE
        in dealing with the local challenges COVID is presenting, and respects HSE’s
        involvement. The Media & Comms pack was really good, businesses are
        feeding back they have seen the campaigns.
        Victoria Clarke – Melton Council

        This project activity has become part of our ‘Rising Tide Plan’ a multi-agency
        approach to tackle COVID.
        Elaine Bird – Harborough

        When you do have a conversation with someone and they’re making you
        reconsider certain aspects of what you’re doing, you’re more likely to open up.
        Small business, metal fabrication

                                                         HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 23
Priority: Target our interventions on specific issues and activities, including a
sustained focus on work-related ill health

For 2021/22 we have carried out a detailed analysis
of existing case work and expected resource
demands in responding to and investigating
incidents, concerns and similar events.
We anticipate approximately 80% of our time will be
spent on fatal investigations (including COVID-19
cases), non-fatal investigations, prosecution
cases, concerns and training a large cohort of
new inspectors. With the remaining 20% of our
field resource, we anticipate carrying out around
14,000 inspections (maintaining the same number
as 2020/21). This will cover the intervention
programmes of the specific core initiatives set out
below.                                                    Manufacturing: Fabricated metals

Our ambition is to increase the number of                 Previous inspection campaigns found significant
inspections in future years as more trainee               levels of uncontrolled risk, particularly in relation to
inspectors qualify following further investment and       activities and processes that can cause ill health.
recruitment into the regulatory training programme.       Inspections will focus on the control of carcinogens
Our inspection campaigns for 2021/22 align with           and asthmagens specifically associated with welding
the specific issues outlined within our sector plans5     fumes, flame cutting, paint-handling processes and
and health priorities. These will be supported            metalworking fluids.
by communications, insight and engagement
with stakeholders. Where appropriate, we will
revisit some previously inspected businesses in             Our deliverables
woodworking and fabricated metals to evaluate
whether there is evidence of sustained and improved         ● Programme of inspections with a                 Q4
                                                              specific focus on control of welding
compliance. Data will be collected in a consistent
                                                              fumes and metalworking fluids
way to enable appropriate evaluation.
We will continue to develop policies and standards
relating to COVID-19 control as our understanding
develops. We will check that the measures
necessary to control the risk of transmission are
effective in workplaces.

5   www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/strategiesandplans/index.htm

24 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Advance manufacturing                                Healthcare
We will work with key industry stakeholders,         The healthcare sector continues to suffer injuries
including Make UK and the Catapult Centres,          and ill heath due to the manual handling of patients,
to optimise the opportunities presented by new       and increased incidents of violence and aggression
manufacturing technologies to reduce accident and    towards healthcare staff.
injury risks in workplaces compared to traditional   Inspections will target violence and aggression
manufacturing processes.                             and manual handling risks. They will focus on the
                                                     management arrangements for training, supervision,
                                                     monitoring and review of the risks, together with
 Our deliverables                                    providing and using manual handling equipment.
 ● We will identify key contributors and     Q4
   build membership of the Advanced
   Manufacturing Forum (AMF) to reduce                Our deliverables
   risk. We will agree a framework with
   AMF to address the challenges to ensure            ● Programme of inspections to NHS Trusts       Q4
   safe workplaces                                      and Health Boards to focus on violence
                                                        and aggression, and manual handling

                                                                  HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 25
Agriculture                                             Construction
The agriculture sector continues to have a high rate    Construction remains a hazardous industry, and
of workplace fatalities, injuries and ill health.       while performance has improved, the level of
Inspections will include those businesses invited       incidents and ill health remain high.
to attend our insight-led agricultural compliance       We will continue to work closely with the
events and will focus on the range of workplace risks   Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC)
covered in those events.                                and the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to
                                                        further improve standards and increase our influence
                                                        and reach in the sector by providing advice and
                                                        guidance. Our Construction Sector Plan outlines
 Our deliverables
                                                        how we will focus on:
 ● As part of a wide strategic intervention      Q4     ● SMEs carrying out refurbishments;
   programme, direct inspection of
   businesses invited to attend an                      ● embedding requirements of the Construction
   agricultural compliance event. Focus will              Design and Management Regulations (CDM)
   be on the full risk profile of the business
                                                          through targeted inspections of dutyholders,
   aligned with compliance event content
                                                          providing principal designer services;
                                                        ● prevention and control of occupational lung
                                                          disease (especially asbestos and dust) and
                                                          MSDs. COVID control measures will be included
                                                          in all interventions; and
                                                        ● providing a national coordinator and virtual
                                                          team for managing and delivering the strategy
                                                          for decommissioning and dismantling offshore
                                                          structure.

                                                         Our deliverables
                                                         ● One major respiratory risk health-           Q3
                                                           focused initiative of inspections covering
                                                           a representational range of site types
                                                           and activities

26 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
Priority: Investigate to swiftly tackle and
                                                           reduce risks, securing accountability
                                                           for victims and their families

Fairgrounds                                                Doing investigation work remains a priority, whether
                                                           measured by its impact on health and safety or by
Industry performance in relation to public safety is
                                                           the speed, ease and efficiency of our processes.
comparatively good, given the number of visitors to
fairgrounds and theme parks, and number of rides           We will continue to investigate incidents and
taken annually. However, previous incidents highlight      workplace health and safety concerns in line with our
the risk of failure or incorrect operation of some rides   published selection criteria and we will seek timely
which can result in fatalities and multiple serious        completion of both fatal and non-fatal investigations.
injuries.                                                  When consistent with HSE’s enforcement policy, we
Public safety is our inspection priority alongside         will prosecute those who commit serious breaches
the control of risks to the public both from fixed         of the law.
and travelling fairgrounds, with emphasis on the
standards of inspection and maintenance of rides
and the control of risks associated with inflatables.       Our deliverables
                                                            Fatal investigations                       ongoing
                                                            ● Complete 80% of fatal investigations
  Our deliverables                                            within 12 months of HSE receiving
                                                              primacy
  ● As the sector reopens, we will focus our     Q4
    efforts on engagement and assurance                     Non-fatal investigations                   ongoing
    processes within both the fixed and
    travelling fairgrounds industries,                      ● Complete 90% of non-fatal
    supported by targeted inspection                          investigations within 12 months
    activity                                                  of the incident

                                                                        HSE Business Plan 2021/22 | 27
Priority: Operate effective statutory schemes, ensuring the safe use of
potentially harmful substances

Chemicals industry                                    Asbestos licensing
Our oversight of the chemicals industry enables the   Work with asbestos requires a high degree of
safe and sustainable use of thousands of chemicals,   regulatory oversight. Asbestos can still be present
including pesticides and biocides.                    in any building built or refurbished before the
HSE has a statutory role to identify chemical risks   year 2000.
and ensure those responsible reduce these risks to    Classed as a category 1 carcinogen, asbestos-related
levels that are acceptable to society.                disease still kills around 5,000 people each year.
We will continue to evaluate and make regulatory      As part of this oversight, HSE operates a statutory
decisions on the authorisation of biocide and         asbestos licensing regime – granting and renewing
plant protection products, the approval of active     licences to carry out higher-risk work with asbestos
substances, and monitor maximum residue levels of     subject to sufficient demonstration and assessment
pesticides in food, before they can be sold on the    that required standards can be met.
UK market.                                            We evaluate all licence applications and carry
As part of Official Control Regulations, we have      out a proportionate inspection programme of
established an enforcement function and will          notified licensed asbestos removal work to ensure
undertake a programme of targeted inspection and      compliance.
enforcement activities.
We will deliver the functions of the UK’s
REACH Agency following its establishment on            Our deliverables
1 January 2021.
                                                       ● Programme of inspections of                Q4
                                                         individual licensed contractors to
                                                         ensure compliance with Control of
 Our deliverables                                        Asbestos Regulations by individual
                                                         licensees
 ● Complete 80% of plant protection        ongoing
   product evaluations and                             ● 90% of asbestos licence applications     ongoing
   authorisations within the relevant                    completed to time
   deadlines                                           ● Complete and publish the report            Q3
                                                         of Post Implementation Review of
 ● Complete 80% of biocide product         ongoing
   evaluations and authorisations within                 Control of Asbestos Regulations
   the relevant deadlines

28 | HSE Business Plan 2021/22
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