Posted By Frank Hallett In a recent pronouncement, the DWP has announced a £20million project to provide FREE H&S advice to small and medium sized companies. The scheme will be run by the HSE. The promo can be accessed at:- www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/D...seID=144281&NewsAreaID=2 What does the IOSH Membership think of this overtly anti-competitive initiative? Has anybody any info about was has been done to safeguard the interests of those IOSH Members who are now not only having to contend with normal business competition [no problem-fair business] but with a FREE service run and promoted by the Enforcer? This is not sour-grapes because I haven't been invited to provide the service; though it is worth noting that the intended providers are, in the main, not going to be small or independant Consultants! So the big companies get the business both ways and the independants get even less! Frank Hallett

Posted By Rob T At the risk of being slightly controversial - my view is that the HSE know a lot about H&S legislation and very little about health and safety in practice. This may be a little unfair to a few of those inspectors out there but when they recruit directly from recent graduates as a favourite position, that's not going to change. They're not very good at using the "reasonably practical" argument particularly when they have prosecution targets. To that effect, I don't think that they will be providing any more than they do now and as such the decent consultant will not suffer. By the way - who inspects the HSE's offices and procedures? I can't remember them ever issueing an ideal safety management system - only to say that you need one! I have also seen an inspector lecturing a road workman on needing a hi-vis jerkin whilst standing in the same area without one herself. Anyone else seen the do-as-I-say rather than what I do stuff from the HSE?

Posted By steve e ashton I thought the HSE was upposed to provide free advice already? Is this a case of double-funding by the Government (Paying twice to get something done)? Or privatisation of the HSE (Will their budget be reduced by the amount going to the 'partners')? I share your concerns about the unfairness Frank, but then I have previously voiced similar concerns regarding IOSH Services providing trraining - at the expense of other consultants offering the same sort of products. Steve

Posted By Peter Lee Rob T, your comments are unfortunate and innacurate, HSE does not have and never will have "prosecution targets", any prosecution has to satisfy both the evidential test and the public interest test, not withstanding the Enforcement Management Model. HSE inspectors are paid to enforce the law it is derogatory to make sweeping statements suggesting that they do not know what reasonably practicable means, which is obviously a fundamental part of Health and Safety. The police enforce traffic laws in this country should it therefore follow they have a degree in motor vehicle engineering before being able to do this?

Posted By Peter Lee My call? OK then youre WRONG, despite what you alledge to have minuted HSE do not have prosecution targets, I trust you can back this up with documentary evidence such as a link to a HSE document or otherwise. As for your argument against graduates becoming inspectors, get in the real world are you saying doctors cannot practice until they have spent 2 years in the field, what about solicitors, engineers, physiotherapists, nurses and so on and so on.

Posted By Frank Hallett Thanks very much for the views folks; whilst they didn't all address the point of my question, they identified areas of concern! I note that there is no OFFICIAL comment on this to date, but it is only a couple of days! Frank Hallett

Posted By Adam Jackson Rob does have a point - the individuals entering the HSE should ideally have some business experience before going into the enforcement role. Unfortunately, the economics within the HSE don't back this up - why move from business into what is often and over-worked, under-supported and definitely under-paid job?