HSE set to target boardrooms

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) could see itself shifting away from site inspections as it targets the senior level of the industry within the next two years.

As part of its new Intervention Strategy, the HSE's pool of inspectors will work with government departments to address health issues in the boardroom rather than on site.

Mike Cosman, head of HSE's construction sector said: "We are committed to continue our inspections and blitzes. However this method could change as we now try to think three dimensionally and ahead of the game over the next two to three years."

In the first year, an HSE key risk inspector will be designated to 10 government departments - believed to include Highways Agency, Defence Estates and NHS Estates - which are signed up to the Office of Government Commerce's 'Achieving Excellence through Health and Safety'.

Each inspector will work solely with the department and its clients, designers, planning supervisors and specialist subcontractors in a strategic approach to assess management arrangements for controlling risks in its procurement and supply chain.

This will include the introduction of Key Performance Indicators, using Movement for Innovation toolkits, to monitor progress. The second year should see movement into the private sector.

The topic areas will include the greatest causes of incidences and fatalities on site such as falls from height, structural collapses, slips, trips and falls, cement dermatitis and transport.

Several unnamed projects have already been earmarked for the initiative and will be designated on their "issue value" rather than contract value. However the contract value scale is expected to range between £25m - £100m.