12th January 2022
South Yorkshire Businesses Targeted By Health And Safety Executive
What’s Happening?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is set to clamp down on businesses in Sheffield and Rotherham after a sharp increase in the number of serious and fatal incidents noted by its inspectors within the last five years.
22 inspectors from HSE’s Yorkshire and North East field operations teams plan to visit more than 70 local businesses, identified by the HSE’s targeting and intelligence team as operating in a high-risk sector or performing poorly with Health and Safety Management.
The businesses targeted for inspection span a wide range of sectors including metal fabrication, engineering, general manufacturing, waste and recycling.
Targeted Inspection
There were 12 worker deaths reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – under the RIDDOR Regulations – in Sheffield and Rotherham between 2014 and 2021 and a further 594 serious injuries were reported over the same period.
Inspection teams are understood to be primarily focusing on conducting inspections on businesses where workers regularly undertake welding and use metalworking fluids – a high proportion of which are based in the Sheffield and Rotherham areas.
You Have Been Warned….
Lighthouse would advise any clients affected by this inspection regime to get ready now and prepare for an HSE Inspector to arrive unannounced at any point during this month. During the visit, you will need to demonstrate that the business has measures in place to manage risks to protect the health and well-being of employees – particularly for issues affecting including health conditions such as occupational lung disease.
If any clients have a concern or would like to discuss any matters relating to H&S – our advice line is always available on 0300 303 5228.
If an HSE inspector identifies any other areas of concern during an inspection, they will take the necessary enforcement action which in some cases may lead to an Enforcement Notice being served or, in the case of serious breaches, a prosecution.
