Securing The Best Health & Safety Frameworks – With Help From Facilities Maintenance
As facilities managers and building owners, there is nothing more important than the health and safety of occupants and visitors. On this front, we rely on government frameworks for health and safety, as well as best practices to avert incidents in the workplace.
In many ways, the UK has been at the forefront of creating outstanding standards of health and safety. Legislation like the Health and Safety at Work Act and The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations have reportedly reduced workplace incidents by 90%.
WHAT IS THE RETAINED EU LAW BILL?
The Retained EU Law Bill is designed to standardise the application of laws post Brexit. A sunset clause included in the legislation provides for the revocation of retained EU laws by December 2023. Affected legislated areas are far-reaching – including everything from construction, the environment, and food safety to hazardous substances, chemicals, gas safety, and radiation.
The concerns voiced by national organisations, bodies, and societies is that this could put important and effective regulatory guidelines at risk. The worry is that it will lead to confusion and poor law-making as the deadline approaches – and this includes the realm of the nation’s health and safety frameworks.
Additionally, this bill could have a knock-on effect on areas like employer rights, business confusion, and trade relations with the EU.
THE WORRIES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY
While health and safety leaders (including charities and trade associations like the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and the British Safety Council) have acknowledged the role of change in building effective health and safety frameworks, they have expressed concern over the timeframe.
Their concerns over health and safety also take into account the gravity of EU influence in existing UK regulations around health and safety. For example, EU influence supports the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974. Another example is the Control of Asbestos Regulations, which could be ‘diluted or scrapped entirely’ for their EU influence.
These groups have called for the bill to be scrapped entirely or for it to be applied with focus on due process, evidence-gathering, and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
HOW TO ENSURE HEALTH AND SAFETY IN YOUR FACILITY
Here are a few health and safety top tips to ensure ongoing compliance and commitment to health and safety today and into the future.
Know The Law
The most important part of compliance is knowing the laws that apply to you. The HSE provides information, updates, and advice and guidance to assist. A facilities maintenance team will also be able to advise on compliance requirements and the best ways to meet them.
Extend Conscientiousness To Environmental Issues
Watchdogs are not only concerned with traditional health and safety in the context of the Retained EU Law Bill. There are also grave worries around environmental protections pertaining to pollution, food and chemicals, habitats, and wildlife. Again, it is worth keeping abreast of changing regulations and adopting sustainable practices wherever possible – and this is an area FM experts can help.
Look To Your Facilities
The Retained EU Law Bill creates uncertainty around what regulations will change and to what degree. The best approach is to control what can be controlled and adhere to existing regulations, for evidenced commitment to health and safety.
- Work with facilities maintenance experts to complete a compliance checklist for health and safety
- Ensure equipment and machinery are well-maintained and in good working order
- Look to improve resource utilisation and management and start to strategise around energy management
PARTNER WITH VOLTIX SERVICES FOR COMPLIANCE TODAY
Start planning for the future by working towards forward-thinking facilities maintenance today. Contact Voltix Services today and let’s get started.