HSE spent £28m on research

Around £28 million was spent by the HSE on commissioned research and technical support in the 2013-14 financial year, according to its sixth annual Science Report. The sum represents around 17% of the HSE’s annual budget.

During the year, HSE commissioned 173 new research and technical support projects, in addition to the 335 that were underway at the start of the year.

The HSE commissioned work on a variety of topics including an overview of diesel engine exhaust exposures, falls through fragile materials and heat stress impairment of temporary refuges on offshore platforms.

Other examples of research completed in 2013-14 included:

• a survey on the use of pesticide, with on going research to monitor the long-term health of people who work with pesticides;

• an incident analysis of mobile elevated platforms (MEWPs) — a report that looked at accidents involving platforms in the UK and abroad to identify key factors that contribute to accidents.

• information about how large organisations use the HSE Management Standards for Work- Related Stress; and

• assessments on self reported work-related illness in the Office for National Statistic’s Labour Force Survey.

The report provides cases studies on a number of these issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is one of the biggest burdens of occupational disease in Britain, and its impact on workers.

All the case studies provide notes and links to other sources, which may be of interest to safety reps.

www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/hseboard/2014/290114/pjanb1406.pdf