We’re going to compare the new version 5 of Health & Safety Xpert with the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) recent publication of their 2014/15 Plan of Work, which details their ongoing focus within the construction sector, for the coming year. We know that our software holds up to current health and safety concerns – let us prove it...
Site inspections
What the Plan of Work says….Inspections on small sites and refurbishment work were a priority last year and continue to be high on the agenda this year too. Approximately 70% of deaths in construction were in this area, where site safety is often poor, so it’s no wonder HSE will be focusing 70% of their inspection efforts on tackling it.
HSE’s refurbishment initiative takes place in September and October and will focus on raising awareness of good health and safety and compliance in this area.
HSE will also focus on larger contractors and major house building projects.
Health & Safety Xpert has got it covered
For small building firms, finding the time to assess every risk can be difficult and health and safety consultants cost a lot of money! Version 5 makes it easy for small firms to comply – just detail the job and the software will assess all the risks, from the fundamentals like Company Health & Safety Policies and site rules to F10 forms and PPE registers.
The new version includes updated set-up inspection checklists, site induction checklists, site rules, site audits and more, so you’re ready if you find yourself under HSE inspection.
Whether you’re a small company struggling with the paperwork, or have just taken on a large project that needs its risks assessed, Health & Safety Xpert has got you covered.
Occupational ill health and disease
The Plan of Works says…Occupational disease and ill health will be another key priority for the HSE.
It is estimated that over 100 times as many deaths were caused from work related illness and disease than from on-site deaths - that’s nearly 4000 people!
Asbestos removal work will be a focus for HSE this year and will be considered on every site visit.
Health & Safety Xpert has got it covered
COSHH Assessments protect your workers against harmful exposure to hazardous substances – which can be a large factor in work related illnesses or disease.
Health & Safety Xpert includes over 100 different up-to-date COSHH Assessment forms to make sure you’re aware of, and handle every hazardous substance, properly. You can find the EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits here, which is helpful to refer to when carrying out COSHH Assessments installed with the latest Health & Safety Xpert v.5!
Health & Safety Xpert’s Accident & Incident Investigation form covers the requirements of RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) for reporting conditions such as hand-arm vibration and there are hundreds of Risk Assessments that take occupational illness and ongoing health problems into account.
Customer duties under CDM
The Plan of Work says…HSE plan to focus ‘beyond the site gate’ to examine how duty holders off-site such as designers or clients can influence the health and safety measures on site. All non-domestic clients have a duty to comply with Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM).
Health & Safety Xpert has got it covered
The Customer Duties document is included so your clients know their own health and safety responsibilities. Clients can include architects, designers, local government or any company who gives you work.
Although domestic clients are exempt from CDM compliance, they will attract duties under Part 4 of CDM regulations if they adopt significant control over the way in which the work is carried out (for example insisting on workers using restricted access etc).
The Customer Duties document reinforces safety on site by making sure those with influence know their responsibilities.
It helps to make client relationships clear and is important at tender stage – your clients will be able to understand your costs – they are what they are because you take health and safety seriously.
For more information about clients and their duties, visit the HSE website.
Temporary Works…
The Plan of Work says…Awareness must be raised to concentrate on the equal importance of temporary works and permanent works. Many builders think that temporary works (such as scaffolding and excavations) are less important because they won’t be a permanent fixture of the finished building, but if their care is neglected, collapse and possible injury could occur as a result.
Health & Safety Xpert has got it covered
Amongst version 5’s new Risk Assessments is the Temporary Works assessment sheet, which helps builders to check that their temporary structures are solid and safe.
Market upturns
The Plan of Work says…The signs of sustained growth in the construction sector are beginning to show. Although this is good news, these market upturns cause an increase in the numbers of fatalities and other injuries. Extra care needs to be taken to ensure that increased workloads don’t mean health and safety is pushed to the sidelines.
Health & Safety Xpert has got it covered
Health & Safety Xpert saves you hours that would normally be spent researching and assessing risks. It calculates risks from job information and produces all the documents you need to follow correct health and safety precautions –there’s no need for you to search through reams of information or worry that you’ve forgotten anything. Nothing is overlooked – but of course it’s down to you to implement the precautions.
Version 5 of Health & Safety Xpert gets full marks when it comes to current health and safety legislation and it’s sensitive to changes in the sector and HSE’s crackdown initiatives too. It provides everything you need to assess your job risks – take its lead and you’ll be site safe and ready for a HSE inspection. No problem!
If you’re interested in what the software could offer you, give a member of our sales team a call on 0845 1234 065 or the support team on 0845 1234 085 if you’re already an HBXL user. Alternatively, you can visit our product page for more information.
