HSE Business Plan 2021/22
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 2021/22Enable 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 | 11Lead 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 2021/22Priority: 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 | 13Occupational 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 2021/22Priority: 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 | 15Provide 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 2021/22Priority: 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 | 17Priority: 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 2021/22Priority: 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 | 19Priority: 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 2021/22Secure 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 | 21Priority: 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 2021/22Feedback 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 | 23Priority: 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 2021/22Advance 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 | 25Agriculture 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 2021/22Priority: 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 | 27Priority: 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 2021/22You can also read
