Littlebrook D Power Station (Safety Standards)

HC Deb 18 June 1979 vol 968 cc410-1W 410W

Dr. McDonald asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the
standards of safety at Little-brook D power station in view of the fact that nine
people have been killed since work on the site commenced, and 310 reportable
accidents have occurred; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Mayhew, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14 June 1979; Vol. 968, c. 281-2],
gave the following information: The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission
informs me that this large and complex site has been in operation for 5\ years and
that the number of workpeople on site has varied constantly, with a maximum of
approximately 2,000 employees working there at any one time for many different
contractors.
Four of the fatalities on the site occurred in one incident in January 1978 when a
hoist collapsed, and a prosecution on indictment is pending arising from the 411W
incident:
after its completion a report will be published. Since work started in 1974,
inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive have paid more than 200 separate
visits to more than 30 contractors and have carried out general inspections and
accident and complaint investigations. At all the visits inspectors have enforced the
appropriate standards of safety laid down in legislation, either by advising
management orally or in writing, and they have three times prosecuted contractors
working on the site.
Inspectors have held discussions with senior management of the main contractors,
and they have also carried out their standard policy of contacting workers'
representatives at visits even before the Safety Representatives and Safety
Committees Regulations 1977 came into force on 1 October 1978.
No one can be complacent with the number of accidents reported in the
construction industry generally and it is clear that throughout its industry standards
of safety can and must be improved. I would draw the hon. Member's attention to
the reports published on 12 June 1979 entitled "ConstructionHealth and Safety
1977-78 "and "Fatal Accidents in Construction 1977".
I regret the number of accidents that have occurred at the Little brook site, but I am
satisfied that the enforcement of safety standards there has received, and is
receiving, the proper degree of priority from the inspectorate in the construction
group in the South-East area.

An organisation operates under the Environment Permit (IPPC) which sets

emission limit values for releases to air. Outline the active AND reactive
monitoring arrangements tha you expect to be in place to ensure
compliance with emission limit values. (8 marks)
he active monitoring systems may be the continuous air rate sampling that is
required, the filtering system monitoring, the monitoring mass emmision levels,
particulate removal levels. The reactive monitoring may be monitoring the increase
in ground concentration levels, the change in weather conditions affecting the
plume releases and directional changes of particulates. But I would have thought
that the question would only relate to what had been taught.
Safety at sports grounds - thought gathering
The major sports grounds of the UK are tightly licensed and regulated, much of the
relevant legislation coming in to play since disasters at football grounds in Bradford
(1985) and Sheffield (1989).
Many of the leading clubs who make these magnificent stadia their home have
significant income streams and can train the numerous stewards and other
volunteers needed to make the matchday a pleasant and safe experience.
But what about lower down the scale? Setting my criteria at clubs in regional
leagues (from any sport) who charge an entry fee into an enclosed ground, I am
asking IOSH colleagues if they can assist my proposed research project by telling
me about their experiences and associations with semi-professional or amateur
clubs, often run by a committee of willing volunteers with few, if any, paid staff.
The association can be on any level - participant, spectator, social member,
occasional visitor or chairman of the board! What Im interested in is learning how
the different sports manage their responsibilities my local semi-professional
football club has a chairman whose job (police officer) sees him well versed in risk
assessment and safety management, however Im sure this cannot be the case
nationwide?
Sports clubs are still businesses and they have responsibilities under HASWA
manual handling, lone working, fire, work at height, asbestos, maintenance,
training, etc, etc, .... how do clubs manage these responsibilities across the country?

First, many sports clubs have no real idea of their criminal and civil law liabilities,
which I can testify from first hand experience. Some clubs use the knowledge of
either a layman or someone who through their professional experience has come
into contact with h&s issues. As a rule many clubs do not have the resources to
employ either a full-time h&s person or a consultant.

Sports clubs normally come under the auspices of the local authority and I suggest
are treated as low risk enterprises. I say that because it appears that very few
inspections take place. I belong to several social and sports clubs and have assisted
them gladly in the past without remuneration. I would be interested in reading your
conclusions at some stage.
I was asked to conduct a FRA at a league one (I think) club and found it had a very
poor systems - including no FRA, poor steward training and poor fire safety
standards. I provided a document with umpteen findings. Invoice paid (eventually).
Job done.

Months later they asked me to liaise with their LA inspector during an audit. He
seemed simply incompetent (fire safety wise), in awe of his surroundings and
anxious not to upset this prestigious local facility (I think he was a regular fan). From
memory, 3 out of 30 something findings had been addressed and even the FRA
folder I supplied had become damaged and illegible in parts. They apologised to him
and asked him to return when they could provide a duplicate report. He was to
agree and terminated the audit without even a proper walk around. It's fair to say
the fire risks here were relatively low, but when dealing with largish crowds (and
hospitality events all the year around), even a small event can have a serious
outcome and this mob were just not taking it seriously.
I would not be surprised that an LA inspector is not up to scratch on fire safety as
that is not part of his remit. In Scotland, fire safety is checked by the Fire service,
LAs look at the premises, crowd control, stewarding, capacity etc et Do LA
inspectors enforce fire safety south of the border? Sports stadias are expected to
comply with the law and will be inspected and their capacities formulated on the
applicable criteria.
A very interesting subject. I have always assumed that leading sports stadiums
employ a Health & Safety Officer. I understand that smaller clubs will not be able to
financially support this function. With the disasters that have occurred and that
everyone is aware of, I would have thought that Health & Safety would be high on
the agenda. You do not hear about vacancies for these posts very often, so how do
you get into this business? I would be interested to hear from any Health & Safety
Officers that are in post or have been in post. I would like to do some work in this
area, either paid or voluntary.