Rank: Forum user 
|
Went to my local IOSH meeting during Q&A an HSE inspector said "we wont be stopping shops visits, they will just be more targeted on areas of interest, but we will still do visits after incidents or if we are looking at something in particular i.e gas safety
All change!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
It wasn't a HSE inspector, it was a LA EHO from a local borough council.
I've had a fair few letters from EHO's covering various regions where we have premises over the last few months. Essentially, it is a questionnaire askiong if we have A, B, C, etc. in place.
After I've completed these with the resp[ective branch managers, with the exception of one (Cambridgeshire), we have not heard anything since.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
As I think I've already said on this forum, we're going some to get half-a-dozen visits from LA Inspectors per year, and that's with an estate of just about 400 shops at the minute.
One thing to bear in mind though is the Condem's changes to the inspection regime have said nothing about Fire Inspections. We get a fair few of them, and since the main H&S concern is management of space, which also happens to be the main fire safety concern, the fire inspections are very effective in driving up general standards of H&S and alerting us to problem shops. And of course, if Fire Officers see gross breaches of H&S law they will often call the LA in anyway,
John
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
I have seen a significant reduction in retail premises inspections over the past 12 months - I sit on a couple of retail safety forums and colleagues have seen similar. This includes follow up to notifiable incidents too both MOP and employee. Having said that most sites have been classified as low risk have been rated this way via previous visits to the premises - not by submission of forms though.
LA's have always had and will continue to have topic inspection areas.
With regards fire inspections - no such reduction - these have increases and will increase at this time of year with stock levels up on the build up to peak - I have had three today alone!
JWK - that’s an interesting one - never seen it that way round before - its usually EHO's informing fire authorities of concerns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Agree with DP, we've actually stopped having any proactive H&S visits (because we are rated as low risk).
LA H&S inspections and the such have been discussed in various topics on the forum, one point to add here is that all LAs are required to identify the most appropriate method for inspecting / monitoring H&S compliance in businesses within the district.
For low risk businesses (as identified by either previous visit or nature of the business) a questionnaire is their method for "inspecting". If you have a questionnaire you know your premises has been rated as low risk and frankly unless you put something pretty stupid in the questionnaire, you will not receive a visit.
The use of questionnaires etc. is not a new thing, they've been around for years and years, but as LAs are not directed to not conduct proactive H&S inspections to low risk premises (as a result of the Loftstedt review), the use of questionnaires is no doubt increasing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Hi DP, the most recemt example was a fire officer concerned about possible Asbestos in heating pipe sealing. A young woman inspector from the LA turned up half-an hour later, wrapped her headscarf round her mouth and ordered everybody out of the shop, putting the workers in real fear I must add. Turned out to be some cement dust, and we did get a near-apology from the LAs principal inspector,
John
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Hiya You would have thought he would deal with that one himself woudnt you? Simply ask for the register?
Near apology - well done - did you frame it? Only joking regulators.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.