ABB warns over bottom-up HSE competence inspections 24 September 2013

Too few engineering firms are ready for the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) new focus on competency.

That's the warning from Dave Dyer, senior consultant at ABB Consulting, who says that HSE's competency tests – of individuals as well as the organisational systems in place – will catch some out.

Dyer suggests that HSE's new bottom-up approach will closely examine the way an organisation's most hazardous processes are completed on a day-to-day basis.

Any failure to demonstrate competency will lead to a full and time-consuming HSE safety audit being carried out, at the plant operator's expense.

"We now have a recognition from the HSE that, often, when things do go wrong, people are somewhere behind it," explains Dyer.

Human error is by far the most frequent cause of loss-of-containment events," he continues.

"Competency testing was previously only implicit, as part of HSE checks, but there is a far greater focus on it now. The aim is to improve safety, not to catch companies out, but I fear many could be under-prepared."

Many companies have yet to have a competency inspection – but Dyer's message is "be prepared', because they are on their way".

Dyer says the HSE will look at two safety critical tasks at a plant – such as tanker loading/unloading – and will deal directly with the people responsible for the task.

Individuals will be asked to provide guidance notes, safety operating procedures and checklists, and will then be observed completing the task.

"Ours is an industry that needs no reminding of the gravely serious incidents that can take place when procedures are not followed or when human errors occur," says Dyer.

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
ABB Ltd

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.