Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
The incident was formally reported to the Health and Safety Executive on 10 February 2022,...
Conclusion
The incident was formally reported to the Health and Safety Executive on 10 February 2022, with relevant trade unions informed on 15 February. The Clerk of the House of Commons acknowledged that the staff affected should have been contacted with greater urgency. The Clerk attributed the delay to disputes between the House administration team and its contractor and subcontractor, for example on whether the incident crossed the threshold at which notification is required, and over who had a duty to report the incident.52 The Health and Safety Executive are investigating the incident. The Clerks committed to respond to the inquiry’s recommendations.53
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Fourth bullet – safety escalation and reporting protocols The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: the revised safety escalation protocols were implemented on 6 April 2022. A further review of their effectiveness is scheduled for October 2022 to ensure they remain fit for purpose, with annual reviews thereafter. The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments have recently reviewed and updated the existing safety escalation arrangements within Parliament, implementing the improved protocols on 6 April 2022. The risk-based protocols, which were developed in consultation with the Trade Unions, incorporate trigger points for escalation based on Health and Safety Executive best practice and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. Training has been delivered to key staff in Parliament on these arrangements to ensure they become embedded. A further review of their effectiveness is scheduled for October 2022 to ensure they remain fit for purpose, with annual reviews thereafter. Any subsequent changes will be communicated to the Commissions. For the House of Commons’ Commission, this is via the regular safety updates provided at each Commission meeting. The Clerk of the Parliaments will continue to provide the House of Lords’ Commission with oral updates on a range of issues as appropriate and will do so on safety matters where necessary.