§ Mr. Ian McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 282, if he will give the date that the refined inspection rating system, to determine the level of priority of a workplace visit from a Health and Safety Executive inspector, is to be implemented; and if the new inspection rating system will be published. [32318]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordI have been asked to reply.
The refined inspection rating system has been in use in offices in the north-west region since 26 June 1995 and was implemented in offices in Wales on 3 July 1995. The system will be implemented in other offices in the near future, although dates have yet to be agreed.
456WThere are no plans to publish details, because the system is an internal planning tool.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his answer of 21 June,Official Report, column 281, if he will define higher risk premises and low hazard, low risk premises. [32317]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordI have been asked to reply.
Health and Safety Executive inspectors use their professional judgment to assess the degree of hazard and risk posed to employees and the public when they visit premises. In the field operations division this assessment is formalised in the inspection rating system, which enables premises to be compared according to the assessed hazards and risks. "Higher risk premises" are those towards the top of this scale. "Low hazard, risk premises" are those at the lower end.