The Suffolk Fire Experience - Doc 266 Sprowston Fire Station Open Day
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HSE
Health & Safety Executive
Mr A D Wigglesworth BSc, G.I.Fire.E.
Lowestoft
Suffolk
Our Ref: I\typ\consumer\sept\J28\EMB
18 September 1998
Dear Mr Wigglesworth
I refer to your letter of 10 September requesting HSE assistance at your prosecution hearing, and in particular the attendance of my inspector Mr Hawkins as an expert witness.
It is part of HSE’s general policy that HSE inspectors do not act as experts to any party in any legal dispute. We are often asked to support a party to proceedings and we have to explain that it is our duty to target our resources and ensure inspectors maximise their time in the field engaged in inspection and investigation. Therefore I have to reply that Mr Hawkins cannot act as your expert witness.
However, in response to your request for guidance:
The duties of safety representatives are explained in the enclosed leaflet “Consulting Employees on Health and Safety”, and the references contained in the leaflet;
“Near miss reporting” is explored in the HSE book (HSG65) “Successful health and safety management”, available from HSE Books, at £12.50.
Employers have a general duty under Section 2 of the health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare of their employees at work. “Welfare” is normally meant to cover such things as seating, washing facilities etc but “health” includes mental health and as such the employers duty extends to issues such as occupational stress. I enclose an HSE press release on the subject which also has the address of HSE books. I understand a new booklet entitled “Help on work – related stress – a short guide” (ref: IND (G) 281) is to be published shortly too.
I hope this is useful. You may wish to approach your union representative who may be familiar with these publications and in a position to advise you.
Yours sincerely
R N Parkes
HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety
39 Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0HL
Tel: 01245 706200 Fax: 01245 706222
HSE
Health & Safety Executive
Mr A D Wigglesworth BSc, G.I.Fire.E.
Lowestoft
Suffolk
Our Ref: I\typ\consumer\sept\J28\EMB
18 September 1998
Dear Mr Wigglesworth
I refer to your letter of 10 September requesting HSE assistance at your prosecution hearing, and in particular the attendance of my inspector Mr Hawkins as an expert witness.
It is part of HSE’s general policy that HSE inspectors do not act as experts to any party in any legal dispute. We are often asked to support a party to proceedings and we have to explain that it is our duty to target our resources and ensure inspectors maximise their time in the field engaged in inspection and investigation. Therefore I have to reply that Mr Hawkins cannot act as your expert witness.
However, in response to your request for guidance:
The duties of safety representatives are explained in the enclosed leaflet “Consulting Employees on Health and Safety”, and the references contained in the leaflet;
“Near miss reporting” is explored in the HSE book (HSG65) “Successful health and safety management”, available from HSE Books, at £12.50.
Employers have a general duty under Section 2 of the health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare of their employees at work. “Welfare” is normally meant to cover such things as seating, washing facilities etc but “health” includes mental health and as such the employers duty extends to issues such as occupational stress. I enclose an HSE press release on the subject which also has the address of HSE books. I understand a new booklet entitled “Help on work – related stress – a short guide” (ref: IND (G) 281) is to be published shortly too.
I hope this is useful. You may wish to approach your union representative who may be familiar with these publications and in a position to advise you.
Yours sincerely
R N Parkes
HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety
39 Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0HL
Tel: 01245 706200 Fax: 01245 706222
posted by Bert Blythburgh at 12:42 AM
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