AC2007KhanLecture

Delivering HSC/E’s Priorities: The Role of Ergonomics/ Human Factors: 

Delivering HSC/E’s Priorities: The Role of Ergonomics/ Human Factors Prof Sayeed Khan MB BS, BMedSci, DGM, FRCGP, FFOM, MIOSH, DM HSC Commissioner

Overview: 

Overview HSC/E’s strategy, priorities and current work Current progress towards targets Ergonomics/ Human Factors at HSE Examples of its role in delivering our priorities Partnership / Working with others Emerging trends and the future

A Re-cap on Strategies: 

A Re-cap on Strategies A strategy for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond – launched Feb 2004 Builds on two earlier 10-year strategies: Revitalising health and safety (RHS) - launched June 2000 & set overall targets for improvement Securing Health Together (SH2) - launched July 2000

Revitalising Health and Safety Targets: 

Revitalising Health and Safety Targets The current RHS targets to be achieved by 2010 are: To reduce the number of working days lost per 100,000 workers from work-related injury & ill-health by 30% To reduce the incidence rate of cases of work-related ill health by 10% To reduce the incidence rate of fatalities and major injuries by 5%

Current HSC/E Priorities: 

Current HSC/E Priorities Fit3 Strategic Programme MSD: Backs!2005 & 2006 Construction Strategic Programme Workplace Health Connect Health, Work and Wellbeing LAs and HSE Working Together Agriculture Major Hazards Strategic Programme Improving management of risks in the Chemical, Oil and Nuclear Industries

Plus Delivering Other Work: 

Plus Delivering Other Work Major Accident Investigations e.g. Buncefield Routine inspection Advice Enforcement

Current progress towards targets: 

Current progress towards targets Fatal & major injuries No clear trend, conclude not on track, though reductions in the last 2 years Ill-health incidence Statistically significant reduction, conclude on track to meet target Working days lost Statistically significant reduction, conclude probably on track to meet target Source: Statistical Progress Report, Nov 2006

Health and safety statistics 2005/6: 

Health and safety statistics 2005/6 Issues can be tackled:

Human Factors Contribution: 

Human Factors Contribution HSE has increasingly recognised the important contribution that human factors can make to health & safety HSE (including HSL) is one of the biggest employers of ergonomists and psychologists in the UK HSE is training 10 new specialist inspectors, using a ‘new’ Cranfield MSc course

Ergonomics/ Human Factors at HSE: 

Ergonomics/ Human Factors at HSE Over the past 25 years… Significant increase in the number of ergonomists and psychologists employed by HSE and HSL And the range of topics they are involved in Began with manual handling in construction, then stress, working with VDUs and controlling human error in the nuclear sector Not much new there then!

Use of Ergonomics & Psychology: 

Use of Ergonomics & Psychology Expertise is now applied to each major hazard sector and to the FIT3 programmes especially MSD & stress HF also applied to other topics where a need is identified e.g. producing the new guidance on Managing Shift Work (HSG 256)

Trend in Our Approach: 

Trend in Our Approach Emphasis is perhaps moving away from the micro to the macro Targeting and managing organisational influences “Management of health & safety”, rather than a focus on design issues associated with individual cases e.g. Stress Major hazards

HF/E Input into the Strategic Programmes: 

HF/E Input into the Strategic Programmes FIT3 topics Research, advice, support and input to campaigns, support for inspection and enforcement Major Hazards Supporting safety case assessment, inspection and management audit, research Some examples follow…

Musculoskeletal Disorders 2003/04 – 2005/06: 

Musculoskeletal Disorders 2003/04 – 2005/06

Focus on Backs since 2004: 

Focus on Backs since 2004 Backs 2005 – Three week campaign Communication and inspection campaign mainly on preventive measures Better Backs 2006 – Three week campaign Communications campaign on staying active, managing sickness absence, return to work Increased awareness with modest transient impact

Human Factors/Ergonomics Input: 

Human Factors/Ergonomics Input 16 HSE/HSL ergonomists supported Backs Involved over 100 separate pieces of work: Development of practical risk assessment aids e.g. MAC tool Training and support for over 1000 HSE & LA staff on the MAC, manual handling and MSDs Supporting campaigns and roadshows Research by HSL and a number of external organisations

Health Models:The Biopsychosocial Approach: 

Health Models: The Biopsychosocial Approach

Stress 1: 

Stress 1 Stress Management Standards – launched November 2004 Focus on five sectors with the highest levels of stress Health (especially NHS) Education Central Government Local Government Financial Services Trained 50 HSE inspectors as “Stress Partners”

Stress 2: 

Stress 2 Ran 69 “Healthy workplace solutions” workshops across the country 8 HSE staff 30-40 delegates Recent research Supports the Management Standards approach, even for SMEs Shows approach is cost effective with fairly short payback period

Slips & Trips: 

Slips & Trips Much research – by HSL and others Example of work with employers Large fast-food chain Had system for cleaning spillages HSE/HSL demonstrated it spread the risk & could be improved Implemented an improved system Rolled out nationally to good effect Reduced S&Ts by 80%

Slide21: 

Free advice to SMEs in England and Wales Empowering businesses Possibility of a free workplace visit Recommend the use of ergonomists, and other OH professionals when necessary 0845 609 6006

Working With Others: 

Working With Others Often more effective to work with others to achieve results HSC/E has increasingly sought partnerships to help make things happen e.g. With Local Authorities With other government departments With stakeholders such as large employers and intermediaries

The Ergonomics Society: 

The Ergonomics Society We have a pretty good relationship with the Ergonomics Society We recognise the useful work of the society and its members Hope to be able to build on this into the future to further our common aims to improve H&S and working life Ergonomists/Human factors practitioners are ideally placed to help influence organisations positively

Strategic drivers for HSC/E: 

Strategic drivers for HSC/E Changes in the marketplace - including the pursuit of improved efficiency and greater productivity Changes in society - increasing concerns about work-life balance and the environment Changes in the workplace - increased automation and human performance enhancement could be adopted to drive increased productivity Changes in the regulatory climate - continued push for better regulation balanced by concerns over the need for standards and worker protection

Key emerging issues: 

Key emerging issues Demographic change Nanotechnology Recycling Human performance enhancement Pervasive computing The Hydrogen Economy Cyber security Carbon dioxide sequestration Obesity Genetic testing New and emerging pests and diseases Biotechnology Terahertz technology Robots and artificial intelligence Flexible working and employment patterns Keyboard design/non-keyboard input devices

The Challenges for HSC/E: 

The Challenges for HSC/E Further reductions in ill-health & accidents require: influencing the key decision makers in more organisations to take H&S seriously helping duty holders to effect the necessary changes in culture and through advice about risk assessment and control Ergonomics has the potential to help Both areas benefit from understanding the ‘user’ and the influences upon him/her

The Future for HSE: 

The Future for HSE Financial pressures mean making the best use of our shrinking resources, and a need for greater flexibility Therefore HSE is currently bringing its various HF/E teams closer together to: - Enhance communications and learning between teams Improve management of CPD and staff development

Slide28: 

Thank you for your attention