Consultation Documents
The Health and Safety Advisory Service (HSAS) welcomes feedback on the Policies and Standards it produces. You can give feedback any time by e-mailing safety and we will consider it when the document is next reviewed.
When developing significant new standards or making substantial changes to existing ones, formal consultation takes place through the Safety Advisory Group and Health and Safety Committee. Where the Policy or standard affects most employees, consultation will be via the DSHO or HSLO’s in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy Consultation Procedure. Standards on specific subjects may be targeted to Managers of the groups of employees most affected.
We will also publish documents undergoing consultation on this site, so that anyone can read and comment on them.
University of Essex documents
We are currently consulting on the following health and safety standards:
- Overseas (non UK) visits H&S Standard and risk assessment
- Portable Electrical Appliance Testing
- Field trips based in the UK
Please e-mail safety if you would like to submit your views.
Overseas (non-UK) visits
This was approved Health and safety Committee for final approval on 30th October 2012
New Overseas Visits website is now under construction and will be available shortly.
We would welcome feedback on the new standard.
Portable Electrical Appliance Testing (PAT)
This standard is being revised by the Estate Management Section.
- Revised PAT standard v10 161012 (Word)
- Guide to the frequency of portable appliance testing v9 161012 (Word)
- Guide to carrying out visual checks on portable electrical appliances v5 131012 (Word)
- Inventory of portable electrical appliances 151012 (Word) (will also be available as excel spreadsheet)
- Record of formal visual inspection and combined PAT v4 151012 (Word) (will also be available as excel spreadsheet)
- Electrical fires: real life examples v4 131012 (Word)
- Glossary of terms 131012 (Word)
- UofE points of contact : electrical safety 02012 (Word)
For reference / comparison
Existing PAT Policy (pdf)
Field trips and offsite visits in the UK with students
New website on Fieldwork is now available
Other organisations
UCEA (Universities and Colleges Employers Association)
No consultations at present.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
CD248 - Consultation on the decision to remove the requirement for the Health and Safety Executive to approve first aid training... Consultation began on 22 October 2012 and ends on 3 December 2012
Consultation on the following is now closed, but responses can b found on the HSE website:
CD243 - Proposals to simplify and clarify RIDDOR reporting requirements Consultation closed 28 October 2012
CD241 - Proposals to review HSE’s Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) Consultation closed 14 September 2012
CD244 – Consultation on proposed regulations to implement Council Directive 2010/32/EU on preventing sharps injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector Consultation closed 8th November 2012
Consultation on legislation and approved Codes of Practice for the enforcement of health and safety law in the workplace. www.hse.gov.uk/consult/index.htm
If you want to submit comments on an HSE consultation document, you can either do so directly or forward them to the Head of Health and Safety (e-mail claires), who will submit a response on behalf of the University.