HSE & Edinburgh University working together to manage Biological Safety

Dr Matthew Penrose HSE Biological Agents Unit

Aims
Overview of Biological Agents Unit Proposed new ways of working What a BAU inspection likely to mean for you

Changes in HSE
2004 Strategy has 4 key messages:
sensible health and safety is a cornerstone of a civilised society sensible health and safety is about managing risks, not eliminating them the people best placed to make workplaces safer are the staff and managers who work in them. They do this best by working together; and HSE is committed to being a good partner working with others to improve health and safety

What this means for HSEs Biological Agents Unit

Promote high standards of safety in work activities involving biological agents Provide assurance to the public, government and others that appropriate controls are in place Underpin the application and development of the biological sciences for the benefit of society

In practice
Focus resources where we can have the most impact Focus on achieving high H&S standards Risk based High hazard organisms Lower hazard organisms which could be better controlled

Designated Biological Agents Inspector

Allocated to larger centres Maintains overview of all BA issues throughout centre Range of techniques to influence H&S Interaction with range of staff Help in the delivery of sensible H&S management

What we dont want

Probe after Scots students smallpox accident
The Sunday Post 17th December 2000

SARS spreads in China: Investigation launched into lab safety.

27 April 2004 Nature Science Update

BAU Inspections: what they mean for you

Powerful tool to influence H&S standards Assurance that risks are being sensibly managed - snapshot Evidence for effectiveness of wider H&S management system Feed into future intervention programmes

Inspection Programme
Developed in consultation improve transparency Initial benchmark inspections - provide evidence base Future visits - focus on improvements Reduce inspections where risks are well managed and standards are high
Agree programme of improvements Check at subsequent inspections

Inspection
DOCUMENTS

INTERVIEWING

scrutinising workplace controls for compliance with safety legislation

Audit

OBSERVATION

DOCUMENTS

INTERVIEWING effectiveness of all aspects of H&S management system

Safety Management
Policy Organisation Planning & Implementing Measuring Performance

Auditing
Reviewing

Documents
Notifications Risk Assessments Publications & Internet Local inspection reports

Local safety committee minutes

Local rules

Interviewing
Risk Assessment - when, how, who, why, review Notifications
- work still within scope? - knowledge of hazards, risks & key safety features

Training & Competency

Living codes of practice

- what would you do if?.

Observations
What happens in practice
4 3 2 1

Acceptable risk

Control
sensible health and safety is about managing risks, not eliminating them

Controls
Physical
Chemical
engineering controls through to PPE waste inactivation, spills treatment Training, culture, adherence to SOPs, human factors

Procedural

the people best placed to make workplaces safer are the staff and managers who work in them.

Physical Controls

Physical Controls

Physical Controls

Chemical Controls

Procedural Controls

Procedural Controls

Inspections Summary
Inspections not just about physical containment Provide evidence of effectiveness of local safety management Risk assessment, adherence to local rules, safety culture of equal importance There is nothing that we do as HSE inspectors that you cannot do yourselves

Managing Biological Safety at Edinburgh

Safety Committees Risk Assessment, Local Rules, Monitoring Lead Scientists Safety Advisers

HSE is committed to being a good partner working with others to improve health and safety

Next Steps
Undertake number of benchmark inspections over coming months Use evidence to develop inspection programme to cover next 3 years Focus on areas where we can have the most impact Move away from areas that are well managed Work with others to try and tackle potential areas of conflict

Feedback and Questions