NESHEP Main Meeting Summary - 4th June 2013

1. NESHEP Main Meeting (4th
June)
Opening our June meeting was Chairman Alan Bassett, Alan gave his usual brief SHE updates and
circulations to members. Alan also played a video to members which focused on safety in the
workplace and how to look out for others. He then went on to give members an update on the
EMSS (Essential Minimum Safety Standard) Competency profile, which tied in perfectly with our
main speaker HSE Representatives presentence on competence. Alan informed members on how
the new sections including contractor and client profiles. If you are a client or contractor you can
set up and use an EMSS profile for FREE. For more information on EMSS please follow the link
www.emssonline.org
ANDREW MULLIGAN – HSE
Andrew’s presentation covered 5 topics - What is competence? What can go wrong? What the law
says? How can competence be demonstrated? How can competence be managed? During his
‘what is competence section’ he provided members with a number of definitions of competency.
Throughout the ‘What can go wrong’ section Andrew provided us examples of things that can and
have gone wrong throughout the years, when people haven’t been fully competent including the
ESSO gas plant explosion, Longford, Australia, 1998 and Flixborough, 1974. Other cases include
Buncefield UK, Toulouse, Texas City and many more. What the law says covered COMAH
Regulation 4, HSW Section 2, 3 & 7 and MHSW 5 & 7, MHSW Regulation 10 information to
employees, Regulation 12 Information to contractors, Regulation 13 Capabilities & Training,
Regulation 14 Employees Duties, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1988,
Regulations 9 & 10 Information Instruction and Training and many others. Failure to manage
competence is liable to be a breach of law. Andrew explained how training is often seen as the
basis for competence; he did also however explain how training isn’t always enough. He then
continued on to show members 2 videos; including a fire demonstration carried out by
professional fire fighters which took a turn for the worst and a large petrol spill gushing from a
petrol tanker. Andrew then moved on to explain competence assurance, covering the 6 key
principles. Bullet points of what competency is needed where presented to members, points
included:-
• Focusing on major accident prevention
• Competency for all roles
• Standards
• Formal training (NVQ/SVQ’s)
• Procedures

2. • ‘On the job’ training
• Resourcing
• Foreseeable operational modes
• Competency includes experience
• Proportionality
• Validation and evaluation
• Trainers and assessors
• Audit and review
Andrew then drew his competency presentation to a close with a brief summary of overall
competency and some useful links which can be found below.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/competence/index.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/guidance/inspection-competence-management-systems.pdf
HSE Report
After Andrews’s presentation he also gave us a brief HSE update including information on SEVESO
III, A new Directive dated 24 July 2012 on the control of major accident hazards involving
dangerous substances (known as 'Seveso III') was published on 24 July 2012 and will be written
into domestic legislation which will come into force on 1 June 2015. It will amend and
subsequently repeal the Seveso II Directive. The HSE & LA are looking into Legionella by looking at
cooling towers; details of the project are at the links displayed. HSE FOD intends to look at all sites
this year, HID have a rolling programme over the next 2 to 3 years. There will be a focus on water
treatment companies and overall control. Links for more information on SEVESO III and Legionella
can be found below. Andrew also informed members that they can sign up for a HSE quarterly
newsletter.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/seveso/introduction.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/newsletter.htm

3. Names and companies of attendees from June 2013 meeting:
Andrew Mulligan – HSE
Alan Bassett – Cognition Media
Bianca Kemp – NESHEP
Colin Ellis – NESHEP
Julie Webster – Morson
Julian Garratt – Morson
George Stuart – Guest
Pete Walker – BCSA
Brian McGough – CIS Northern Limited
Shaun Bottomley – Harsco Metals &
Minerals Group
Stuart Langston – Hartlepool Borough
Council
Joyce Wilkinson – Innov8 Disposal Ltd
Bref O’Rourke – Northern Safety Ltd
Cath Measor – Northern Safety Ltd
Neil Agar – OPUS
Bill Hardwick – Persimmon Homes
Jimmy Witt – Rainham Industrial Services Ltd
Stuart Gibbon – Redcar & Cleveland Borough
Council
Terry Bye – Wilton Transport
Tony Abbott – My learning Friend Ltd
Sue Cant – British Standard
Bill Coulson – UK Safety Services
Bob Hartley – Sembcorp
Michael Hebner – P.H.L
B Newton – Wearmouth
Linda Newlove – Wolviston Group
Ed Levie – NESHEP
Maria Tuck – SBV Fabrications
Gloria Grace – Selwood
Mark Armstrong – Tolent
Ronnie Reason – Fabricom
Please note that attendance of meetings can count towards your CPD.
Please note our next meeting will be held at the Caterpillar Factory in Peterlee. Spaces for this
trip are limited to 25 people so if you wish to attendee this trip please contact Bianca ASAP at
bianca@neshep.org