Our consultations
Governments and other bodies regularly consult IOSH on policy issues relating to occupational safety and health. Our Consultation process looks to present policymakers with IOSH members’ opinions about what affects them the most
Psychological health and safety at work: managing psychosocial risks — Guidelines
Please note: You must be an IOSH Member to access the full consultation.
About this consultation
Following the development and publication of ISO 45001: 2918 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, a draft guidance standard on its requirements in respect to Managing psychological health and safety/psychosocial risk within an OHSMS is now available for stakeholder comment.
IOSH, as a Category A Liaison Body to ISO TC 283, will submit feedback comments directly to ISO TC 283 WG2, where we are represented, as well as to the BSI HS/1 Committee for consideration as part of the UK response.
Background
In recognition of the growing need to improve the management of work-related psychosocial risks worldwide, a new work item proposal was agreed by ISO TC 283 and a work group established (WG2), to produce a supporting guidance standard to ISO 45001.
The initial drafting drew on existing work such as BSI / PAS 1010: 2011 Guidance on the management of psychosocial risks in the workplace; CAN/CSA-Z1003-13/BNQ 9700-803/2013 – Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace; Safe Work Australia 2019 – Work-related psychological health and safety – A systematic approach to meeting your duties; and Australian Human Rights Commission 2010 – Workers with mental illness: a practical guide for managers.
This new psychosocial risk standard aims to provide systematic guidelines for employers that will enable them to promote, develop, and continually improve the management of psychosocial risks, contributing to safer and healthier working environments.
The draft guidelines format reflects the ISO high-level structure for management systems, to align to ISO 45001 and covers scope, normative references, terms and definitions and then context of the organisation, leadership and worker participation, planning, support and operation. The document closes with sections on performance evaluation and management review and improvement.
Consultation questions
We invite IOSH members to send us feedback comments on the draft, using the response template provided by 18 September 2020 – these can be general, technical or editorial. The draft is strictly ISO copyright protected and is only accessible to IOSH members for consultation purposes.
Members need to log into MyIOSH for access to the draft guidelines for review and comment. When using the comment template, please include your name and all the relevant details related to your comment, including clause and paragraph number, why you’re proposing a change and what the suggested change is.
Respondents should note that the overall structure and top-level headings of the standard are now agreed, and no further changes will be made to these. Also that, unfortunately, we’re unable to consider comments submitted after the stated deadline or not on the comment template.
Comments should be sent to consultation@iosh.com.
A renewed Trade Policy for a stronger Europe – Consultation note
About this consultation
In June 2020, the European Commission launched a major review of EU Trade Policy, including a public consultation seeking input from the European Parliament, Member States, stakeholders and civil society. It provides a paper ‘A renewed trade policy for a stronger Europe – consultation note', which includes 13 consultation questions. The results of the consultation will feed into a communication, to be published towards the end of the year.
Background
The European Commission aims to build consensus around fresh medium-term direction for EU trade policy, responding to a variety of new global challenges and taking into account the lessons learned from the coronavirus crisis.
Proposed changes
The European Commission’s aims include a trade and investment policy that supports economic recovery, the creation of quality jobs, protection from unfair practices and coherence related to sustainability, climate change, the digital economy and security. The consultation covers all relevant topics to EU trade policy, with a stated special focus on the following:
- Building a resilient and sustainable EU economy after the coronavirus
- Reforming the World Trade Organisation
- Creating global trade opportunities for businesses and in particular SMEs
- Maximising the contribution of trade policy to addressing key global challenges, such as climate change, sustainable development or the digital transition
- Strengthening of trade and investment relationships with key trading partners
- Improving the level playing field and protecting EU business and citizens
Consultation questions
There are 13 consultation questions from the European Commission, as follows:
- How can trade policy help to improve the EU’s resilience and build a model of open strategic autonomy?
- What initiatives should the EU take – alone or with other trading partners - to support businesses, including SMEs, to assess risks as well as solidifying and diversifying supply chains?
- How should the multilateral trade framework (WTO) be strengthened to ensure stability, predictability and a rules-based environment for fair and sustainable trade and investment?
- How can we use our broad network of existing FTAs or new FTAs to improve market access for EU exporters and investors, and promote international regulatory cooperation ̶ particularly in relation to digital and green technologies and standards in order to maximise their potential?
- With which partners and regions should the EU prioritise its engagement? In particular, how can we strengthen our trade and investment relationships with the neighbouring countries and Africa to our mutual
- How can trade policy support the European renewed industrial policy?
- What more can be done to help SMEs benefit from the opportunities of international trade and investment? Where do they have specific needs or particular challenges that could be addressed by trade and investment policy measures and support?
- How can trade policy facilitate the transition to a greener, fairer and more responsible economy at home and abroad? How can trade policy further promote the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? How should implementation and enforcement support these objectives?
- How can trade policy help to foster more responsible business conduct? What role should trade policy play in promoting transparent, responsible and sustainable supply chains?
- How can digital trade rules benefit EU businesses, including SMEs? How could the digital transition, within the EU but also in developing country trade partners, be supported by trade policy, in particular when it comes to key digital technologies and major developments (e.g. block chain, artificial intelligence, big data flows)?
- What are the biggest barriers and opportunities for European businesses engaging in digital trade in third countries or for consumers when engaging in e-commerce?
- In addition to existing instruments, such as trade defence, how should the EU address coercive, distortive and unfair trading practices by third countries? Should existing instruments be further improved or additional instruments be considered?
- What other important topics not covered by the questions above should the Trade Policy Review address?
IOSH has been pleased to respond, based on our recent submission to the UN-WTO Policy Hackathon on Trade.
WBG Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines revision
Human Capital Indicators
The ONS is reviewing how it measures human capital in the UK and is seeking views on its proposals for a new indicator-based, dashboard approach, focusing on possible measures, rather than existing data.
It defines human capital as a measure of the skills, knowledge and experience of an individual or population which can be applied in the economy or in society at large. And it explains that human capital is widely recognised as a driver of productivity and helps people achieve their needs and wants and improve their well-being.
The ONS proposes taking an indicator-based approach, supplementing existing human capital estimates with a wider suite of indicators. This is intended to allow a broader consideration of the factors that impact on people’s skill and knowledge development throughout their lives, as well as starting to consider the impact human capital has on other outcomes, such as on health and well-being.
Raising the Bar: Improving competence, Building a safer future
Raising the Bar is an interim report and responds to Dame Judith Hackitt’s competence recommendations in Building a Safer Future, published in May 2018 in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. It presents what it intends as a blueprint for improving the competence of those involved in designing, constructing, inspecting, assessing, managing and maintaining Higher Risk Residential Buildings (HRRBs), and other buildings in scope, to ensure they are safe for all who occupy them.
Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s
About this consultation
The commitments outlined in this Green Paper are intended to signal a new preventive approach for the health and care system in England. It aims to ensure that Government, both local and national, works with the health and care system, to put prevention at the centre of all their decision-making. The Government urges that for it to succeed, and for the NHS to be transformed and the nation's health improved over the next decade, individuals and communities must play their part too. It emphasises that health is a shared responsibility and only by working together can the vision of healthier and happier lives for everyone be achieved.
Health is everyone’s business – proposals to reduce ill health-related job loss
About this consultation
In this consultation, the UK Government’s DWP seeks views on proposals to reduce ill health-related job loss, via a range of measures aimed at improving how employers can best support those with disabilities and long-term health conditions to stay in and thrive at work. It aims to encourage all employers to take positive action to support employees who are managing health conditions at work and to manage sickness absence more effectively.
Transparency in supply chains consultation
About this consultation
Following the May 2019 Independent Review of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA), which made 80 recommendations, the Government has issued its response. It has accepted many of the recommendations and has now launched this consultation into strengthening transparency in supply chains, to inform delivery.
Building a Safer Future – Proposals for reform of the building safety regulatory system
This UK Government consultation builds on the recommendations from Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, conducted following the Grenfell Tower fire. It proposes fundamental reform of building safety requirements, with the aim that residents are safe, and feel safe, in their homes. The consultation document reports on what action has been taken so far; sets out proposals for reform; seeks answers to questions; and provides several informative annexes, including one that assesses costs and benefits of the proposals. There is also a concurrent call for evidence from the Home Office about the application of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – call for evidence
In this call for evidence, the UK Home Office is seeking feedback on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), which underpins fire safety in business premises, such as offices, warehouses, shops and commercial venues, to ensure it is fit for purpose. Employers, employees, business owners, fire safety professionals and others are asked for evidence, experience and views on the application of the FSO and fire safety in non-domestic premises, including workplaces and the parts used in common in multi-occupied residential buildings in England. This call for evidence complements the government's concurrent consultation, Building a Safer Future, and responses from it may be shared with the consultation team, to inform policy.