HSE has just passed its 35th birthday
September 1st 2009 Although we have not been celebrating it, HSE has just passed its 35th birthday. The legislation that established HSE and the modern regime for protecting workers, the Health and Safety at Work Act, was introduced in 1974.
In many ways, it was an inspired piece of lawmaking. When it entered the statute books it created a fundamental principle of occupational health and safety management that has proved durable and flexible enough to accommodate the dramatic changes we have seen in the nature and structure of the British economy over the last three decades.
That principle – those who create a risk are responsible for managing it – is as relevant in the digital iPod age as it was when the Beatles and the Stones were cutting vinyl LPs.
But what has changed is the nature of society’s understanding of the risks that workers face. A case in point is asbestos. Although there has long been an awareness of risks associated with asbestos exposure, it wasn't until the last decade that a fuller picture of the types of asbestos and the range of occupations at risk became clearer and all types were banned.
We now know that it is Britain's biggest industrial killer and will claim over 100,000 lives. And importantly we have a much better understanding of how the risks of dealing with asbestos can best be managed. That understanding is set out in our guidance. HSE publishes around 250 official publications, ranging from the complex and highly technical guides to legal requirements in specialised manufacturing operations to general introductions to basic risk assessments.
These authoritative publications have for many years only been available to those willing to pay the cover price. Costs varied between a few pounds to approaching £100. In truth this created a dilemma for HSE: was it right to make a charge for information that helped companies to meet their legal obligations? Could this hinder effective control and management of risks?
Earlier this year the HSE Board took the view that it was in the interests of both businesses and their employees to make the guidance freely available. From September 2009, our priced publications in the 'HSG' and 'L' series – technical guidance and notes on the legislation – will be made freely available from HSE’s website as PDFs.
This move means that those with an interest in handling and storage, for example, will be able to download free copies of guides to everything from carrying out risk assessments, using lift and handling equipment and preventing upper limb disorders.
If you want the legal guide to the Manual Handling Operations Regulations, this will be available too.
And it isn’t just handling and storage: guides to workplace transport, vibration, safety management, dangerous substances, asbestos, engineering, construction and ceramics and many other topics and industrial sectors will all be free to view and print. For those who still want the durable hard copies, we have pledged to continue to sell them through a new online store.
Whether you are a consultant, a small business owner or a specialist inhouse
advisor, we believe the decision to make the information freely
available will help improve safety.
We hope that HSM readers agree this is something to celebrate. More articles from Health and Safety Executive: | 
