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Posted By Sean Fraser Is it just me, or is anyone else wondering why the HSE are involved in the investigation into the latest F&M outbreak? With all the news about scarse resources getting scarcer, fatalities on the rise after a period of consistent fall, unrest and uncertainty regarding the depth of the knowledge pool possibly being undermined by the proposed move of the HQ from london to Liverpool, would the HSE not be better employed carrying out their normal function of inspection and advice, with investigation into workplace incidents which have a direct and realistic threat to human health and well-being? The risk to human health is very low, so why are the HSE getting involved? This is an animal health issue, not a work health issue. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1296363.stm
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Posted By Adrian Watson
HSE have responsibility for enforcing bio-safety.
Regards Adrian
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Posted By Sally
Because if this has got out of a lab then what else may have got out of the lab? I think if it wasn't for this they would not have an involvement
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Posted By Sean Fraser
Hmmm . . .
Not convinced. The laboratories both handle animal viruses - it is a stretch to suggest there is a risk to human health. Same goes for the bio-safety issue.
Still, I suppose some real cowboys in the local area can breathe easier at the moment and not be constantly looking over their shoulder knowing that the HSE are diverting limited resources towards an incident which has some tenuous link to health but makes great headlines, rather than on something that could be making a real difference to worker health and safety as part of their daily activities and hidden to the public in general.
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Posted By ddraigice
Sean,
There will be specialist inspectors dealing with this so the general inspectors involvement will be minimal.
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Posted By Rob T
Hi Sean,
I used to have some involvement at Porton Down and can assure you that the HSE are very interested in any possible virus leak. There are many zoonoses that can be passed to humans and when manipulating viruses for human defence, mistakes can be made. I am quite happy that the HSE Bio branch are involved in this, not just because of foot and mouth, but because there has been any release. I can't see the commercial company working with anything above cat 2 but who knows with the governmental research lab - could be up to Cat 3 (but I can assure not Cat 4 so no massive human panic).
Rob
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Posted By Sean Fraser
Comments noted - I'm now more comfortable with the HSE aspect.
Some of my own commentary was tongue-in-cheek, but I had been confused as to how it related to workplace H&S so thought I'd ask the question.
I knew the forum would be able to provide a positive answer!
Thanks to everyone who has contributed.
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