Annual Science Review 2020

HSE Annual Science Review 2020

Contents

03 Foreword Case studies

Keeping pace with change Sharing our success Managing risk well

04 Making workplaces
healthier for all
24 Innovation in battery
technology – safely enabling
the Industrial Strategy
29 Collaborating with Dstl to protect
people from major hazards
30 Providing asbestos proficiency
40 Effective containment systems
and safe plume dispersion from
laboratories

05 The HSE ‘Science Hubs’

event
25 Enabling the safe introduction
of hydrogen as a low-carbon
energy vector
testing schemes
31 Videos for the World Health Organisation
to protect workers in laboratories
41 Health and Safety Excellence:
leadership training programme
42 Development of a high-pressure

06

The HSE science and
evidence cycle
in action:
Supporting small employers
26 Advancing human
handling biological agents
32 Specialist support for the regulation of
major hazards and sharing lessons
pipeline release model
43 Improving tower crane safety
44 Assessing toxic risk from potential
Reducing work- biomonitoring to provide learned through training courses warehouse fires
associated evidence for chemicals 33 Protecting the environment: updating
musculoskeletal policy making the UK protocol for pesticide boom Tackling ill health
disorders 27 Reducing the risk of silicosis spraying drift-reduction technology 45 A new online workplace-friendly
associated with processing 34 Protecting British troops from biological risk assessment tool to reduce the

07 Events and
achievements
artificial and natural stones
28 Improving HSE’s evidence
base on occupational
warfare agents

Acting together
risk of musculoskeletal injury from
pushing and pulling operations
46 Insights into workplace challenges

15 Meet the staff exposure to wood dusts 35 High-quality health and safety statistics
to inform decision making
36 Dispersion modelling of hydrocarbon
to reducing work-related
musculoskeletal disorders
47 Improving occupational hygiene

23 Case studies
(see right)
released from an offshore well blowout
37 Investigation of fatal explosion at
Celsa Steelworks
control standards in the waste and
recycling industry
48 Estimating the scale of occupational

49 References and
publications
38 Incident investigation following the
death of a child in a disability lift
39 Discovering safety: Development of
asthma in seafood processing

tools to support risk improvement

decisions at the design stages of
construction projects

02
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Foreword
I HOPE YOU FIND this year’s science
review an interesting read; the
mix of case studies helps to
illustrate the breadth of problems
that we are asked to address by
colleagues in HSE, in other parts
of government and by industry.
I also think that, when taken as
a whole, three interesting points
emerge: first, that our scientists,
engineers and analysts are
exploring how risk accumulates in
complex systems and developing
approaches to mitigate these risks;
second, that these risks often emerge
in the interfaces found between
components within the whole
system (eg between the people,
the plant, the processes and the
product); and finally that the most
significant element of the system
are the people in it, and the impact
the variation in their physical and
mental health status has on the
efficient functioning of that system.
03
My colleague Professor David
Fishwick picks up on this theme in his
guest editorial, and the science and
evidence cycle in action example of
musculoskeletal disorders on page 6
provides a really good illustration of
how our approach helps to develop
simple, practical solutions which
are evidence based and can be
used to catalyse change within the
whole health and safety system.
It is also important that we are
constantly thinking about the future
and identifying the potential for
new risks to be created or for risks
that we already understand to
emerge in new settings. This review
helps to demonstrate how we play
our part in exploring these issues
and shows how we help to ensure
that new technologies such as
batteries, or new processes such
as introducing hydrogen into the
UK gas network, can be deployed
in a healthy and safe way.
This year we have also started to
provide a forward look on emerging
risks for our regulatory colleagues to
help them consider if our regulatory
frameworks can be used to provide an
appropriate response where necessary.
The emergence of silicosis risk to workers
who cut artificial stone is one such
example, which was identified through our
international networks, and has resulted
in some joint work with colleagues in New
Zealand (see the case study on page 27).
In summary, I think that this collection of
stories helps to show how our practical,
pragmatic and interdisciplinary
approach to problem solving makes
a real difference, and that by learning
from the past and researching the future
world of work, we help to protect those
in work, or affected by work, today.
Professor Andrew Curran
Director of Research, Chief Scientific
Adviser and Head of Science
and Engineering Profession
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Making workplaces healthier for all
Professor David Fishwick giving
the keynote address at a ‘HS2’
high-speed railway event
I AM CHIEF Medical Adviser for HSE
and for HSENI – the Health and Safety
Executive for Northern Ireland – and I
also work as a respiratory physician
in the NHS. As such, I see the human
tragedy caused by the failure to control
risks to health in workplaces – be that a
case of occupational asthma, mental
ill health made worse by a poor
line manager, or a musculoskeletal
problem that prevents a worker playing
outside with their grandchildren. I
have also seen how HSE’s research
activities have put an increasing
spotlight on health, and how more
studies are seeking to link exposure
measurements to health outcomes.
HSE also maintains a national network
of doctors, appointed doctors and
approved medical examiners of divers
04
who are appointed to deliver certain
vital functions under our regulatory
framework.1 Over the last year or so
we have been reaching out to them
and offering training and networking
opportunities so that we can learn from
each other. Their intelligence from
real workplaces helps ensure that our
medical approach is grounded by
what actually happens and this helped
us ensure that our health and work
strategy took account of their views.
I think that it is increasingly important
to share our approaches and our
research outcomes on the global
stage in an attempt to learn from
other researchers around the
world. A good example is the work
described in this report on the
artificial stone issue (see the case
study on page 27). I have been lucky
enough to work with the Australian
research group who identified
an epidemic of silicosis from this
exposure in their country and helped
to facilitate some cross-comparison
of materials with our hygienists and
measurement scientists. The dialogue
continues and I hope that by doing
so we can help to prevent such an
epidemic from occurring in the UK.
All HSE research findings are published
as soon as we are able to do this, and
this demonstrates both my and Andrew
Curran’s commitment to ensure that
we publish the evidence we generate
to make workplaces healthier for all.
Professor David Fishwick
HSE Chief Medical Adviser
HSE Annual Science Review 2020

The HSE ‘Science Hubs’ event

IN OCTOBER 2019, Professor Andrew policy activities, and members of the

Curran, HSE’s Chief Scientific Adviser,
hosted the first joint event for the
members of HSE’s Science, Engineering
and Evidence Assurance Committee
(SEEAC) and HSE’s Research
Committee and sub-committees.
SEEAC is a group of external experts
who provide independent and
objective assurance to the HSE Board
on the quality and relevance of its
science and engineering strategy and
delivery.2 The Research Committee,
and associated sub-committees for
each of HSE’s six ‘Science Hubs’, are
chaired by Professor Curran, and
comprise external scientific experts,
HSE senior leaders for regulatory and
Chief Scientific Adviser’s office. The
Science Hubs are a focus for HSE’s
science and research activities and
are led by senior scientists in the areas
of focus.3 The aim of the Research
Committee is to ensure that HSE’s
research priorities and commissioning
are aligned to HSE’s needs.
This major event, with over 50
delegates, provided an opportunity
to explore: the overarching
commissioning and science planning
approach; work underway to update
the evaluation approach for the impact
of HSE science; the synergies and
interactions across the science hubs;

Samantha Peace (left) HSE’s Director of Field Operations Division,

with Kate Jeffrey, Hannah Elhamami and Jo Sproston

and any current challenges so that we
continuously improve our approaches.
Delegates also considered how the
changing world of work is impacting
on our policy and regulatory
approaches. In addition, delegates
had the opportunity to meet HSE
scientists and hear about their work
at an informal lunchtime event.
HSE Board member and SEEAC Acting
Chair Ken Robertson said, ‘This was a
Chris Flint (right), HSE’s Director Energy Division and Ian Indans fantastic event covering the breadth
and depth of science and engineering
carried out within HSE. It provided
an opportunity to truly see how HSE
works together and, with the help of a
number of external experts, delivers
impactful outcomes that help reduce
death, injury and ill health across
Great Britain. The focus on current
issues, balanced with significant
effort to mitigating future risks, gives
confidence that, this ‘One HSE’
approach to science and engineering,
will really make a difference.’

05
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
The HSE science and evidence cycle in action: 4 reducing work-associated musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) such as pain and disorders of the back, limbs and neck
We catalyse engagement by
others and improve performance
›› Our ergonomists offer training
courses on manual handling,
upper limb disorders and
display screen equipment5 and
consultancy on reducing MSDs:
1660 delegates have been trained
on 151 courses over 17 years and
they have spoken at hundreds
of industry events, as well as
contributing to developing and
delivering the HSE 2018 ‘MSD
Summit’6 – over 130 delegates.
›› Our statisticians publish working
days lost due to MSDs7 – used to
make the case for improvements.
We protect workers and
safeguard the public
›› We developed HSE’s MSD ‘Toolkit’-
Assessment of Repetitive Tasks
(ART), Risk Assessment of Pushing
and Pulling (RAPP), and Manual
Handling Assessment Charts (MAC
and v-MAC).8 The toolkit is used in
Great Britain and internationally;
Chile has translated it.
›› HSE’s MSD guidance and advice
for industry is informed by
robust scientific evidence.9
We anticipate new challenges through
foresight and synthesis of existing evidence
We catalyse engagement We anticipate new
by others and improve challenges through foresight
and synthesis of
›› HSE’s Foresight Centre identifies potential MSDs
performance
existing evidence challenges from the changing world of work.14
›› Evidence synthesis by HSE ‘s Workplace Health
Expert Committee (WHEC) – position paper ‘Work-
associated musculoskeletal pain: the role of HSE’.15
›› Our ergonomists provide policymakers
with information on emerging approaches
We protect workers to reduce MSDs, eg potential use of
and safeguard wearable sensors and exoskeletons.
the public We provide evidence to
ensure risks resulting
from work activities
are effectively controlled We provide evidence to ensure risks from
work activities are effectively controlled
We underpin operational ›› HSE ergonomists and physicians work with
and policy activities European counterparts through the Partnership for
European Research in Occupational Health and
Safety (PEROSH) to develop advice and guidance
on assessing sedentary behaviours at work.16
›› HSE physician-led research into sit stand
desks and sedentary behaviours.17
›› Evidence from our applied ergonomics research
published in reports and peer-reviewed
We underpin operational and policy activities papers: over 90 publications in 20 years.18
›› Insight specialists develop qualitative evidence on MSDs
in three sectors to inform policy and interventions.10 Further information
›› Applied ergonomics research used to inform
interventions, eg manual handling in kerbside See the case studies on pages 45 and 46,
recycling11 and midwives using birthing pools.12 and references 6–18 which include research
›› HSE scientists and analysts develop evidence related to reducing work-associated MSDs.
that informed development of HSE’s Work and Meet two HSE ergonomists on page 19.
Health Strategy: MSDs made a priority.13
06
 Events and
achievements
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Events and achievements
Visitors Commenting after his visit, Sir Patrick
said, ‘A big thank you from me and the
HSE’s Science and Research Centre in Buxton has hosted team for a terrific visit. You have a very
a number of important visitors and events in 2019. impressive set-up and an engaged
and engaging team of scientists. Both
›› In June, Sir Patrick Vallance, the more about the science, engineering purpose and expertise shone through.’
Government Chief Scientific Adviser, and evidence that HSE undertakes
and Professor Tom Rodden, Chief to support our policy and regulatory ›› In February, Air Marshall Sir Richard
Scientific Adviser for the Department activities. They met with scientists Garwood, Chair of the Tri-Branch
for Digital, Culture, Media and and engineers from around HSE, Management Board of the three
Sport, were accompanied by Martin including our Chemical Regulations Accident Investigation Branches of
Temple, Chair of the HSE Board, and Division, to talk about the approach the Department for Transport, which
Dr David Snowball, HSE Acting Chief we take to difficult challenges – both cover air, marine and rail investigations,
Executive, on a visit to HSE’s Science the pragmatic, practical solutions visited to learn more about HSE’s
and Research Centre in Buxton. Their we develop, and the investigations forensic incident investigation work.
visit provided an opportunity to learn we do into why things go wrong. He toured the outdoor large-scale
test facilities, the storage facility for
material and structures retrieved from
incident investigation sites, and indoor
laboratory facilities. Sir Richard said,
‘I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and
was able to get a good feel for the
capabilities that you have on site. Your
flexible programme allowed me to
see a great deal and provide some
food for thought as to how we could
become a bit closer as two government
organisations with the shared aim
of preventing death and injury.’
›› In September, Chris Carr, the
Head of the Better Regulation
Executive, which leads the regulatory
reform agenda across government,
Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Andrew Curran was welcomed to HSE by Professor
08
Andrew Curran, the Chief Scientific
Adviser, and Clive Fleming, the Head
of Policy Profession. The visit included
presentations and discussion on: HSE’s
use of regulatory intelligence to support
better regulation and wider cross-
government needs; risk assessment
specialist support to enable the Space
Industry Act; work to enable the healthy
and safe deployment of advanced
materials; and a tour of the wider
site including discussion on our work
to enable the hydrogen economy.
Clive Fleming noted afterwards that,
‘It definitely impressed and helped
reinforce their understanding of HSE
as an innovation-friendly regulator.’
›› In November, Professor Alan
Penn, Chief Scientific Adviser for the
Ministry of Housing, Communities
and Local Government and Chris
Pook, Deputy Director of the
Government Office for Science,
were welcomed by Professor Curran.
Their visit included discussion on
the wide-ranging application
of HSE scientists’ expertise and
experimental capabilities to support
other government departments. The
visit included meeting our experts to
hear about our expertise in fires, risk
assessment, and impact of chemical
exposures on health including
protecting incident ‘first responders’.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Events
›› The ‘Discovering Safety’
programme19 was formally launched
in June 2019 at the Lloyds Register
building in London. This ambitious
programme of research is funded
by Lloyds Register Foundation and
delivered in partnership by HSE and
the University of Manchester, through
the Thomas Ashton Institute.20 It
seeks to deliver health and safety
benefits through a data-driven
global community. Research is being
undertaken to better understand the
global health and safety landscape
and its challenges, and how best
to access and use data to develop
solutions for maximum benefit.
HSE’s ‘Discovering Safety’ team: Hannah
Elhamami, Michelle Hawkins, Helen
Balmforth (Programme Director), Matt
Clay, Steven Naylor and Kate Jeffrey
›› In January 2019, the Thomas Ashton
Institute20 held a major event21 on
‘Hazards from Ageing Infrastructure’
in partnership with the Institute for
Chemical Engineering, IChemE,
and the Hazards Forum. The event
considered infrastructures such as
offshore oil and gas platforms and
onshore major hazard plants. David
Glass, an HSE specialist mechanical HSE’s 100% Hydrogen H21 Test Facility
engineering inspector, presented
the importance of leadership in be part of the H21 programme, and ›› A PEROSH Expert Workshop
managing ageing and asset integrity, in particular, that we are housing on work-related stress was hosted
particularly in preventing hazards this new specialist facility here in by HSE in May 2019.23 PEROSH
from loss of primary containment, Buxton. We are sure this will become is the Partnership for European
and the campaigns that HSE is a key component in providing the Research in Occupational Health
using to ensure dutyholders are evidence which will enable hydrogen and Safety; its aim is to strengthen
managing ageing appropriately. to become a safe, clean and resilient research in Europe through a
component of our approach to partnership of national European
›› HSE’s ‘100% Hydrogen H21 Test achieving zero-emissions by 2050.’ institutes affiliated to government
Facility’22 was opened at HSE’s
Science and Research Centre in July
2019. It is the first ever experimental
test facility for pure hydrogen and is
part of ‘H21’, the world’s largest project
to reduce carbon emissions to meet
climate change targets. It is funded
through Ofgem’s Network Innovation
Competition and led by Northern Gas
Networks. The project results will be
critical in determining if it is safe to
convert millions of homes across the
country from natural gas to hydrogen.
Andrew Curran, HSE’s Chief Scientific
Adviser, said, ‘We are pleased to PEROSH Expert Workshop, hosted by Phoebe Smith (centre right)
09
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Harpur Hill Primary School celebrating British Science Week with (left to right) Jackie Morton, Micah Stocks Greaves and Paul Johnson
or social insurance systems.
The workshop was attended by
experts from 10 European institutes
and hosted by HSE psychologist
Phoebe Smith. Delegates shared
the latest knowledge about,
and approaches to reducing,
work-related stress from a multi-
disciplinary perspective including
physicians, psychologists and
ergonomists, and identified
common research challenges
and needs. HSE policy makers
Kathryn Fuller and Rob Vondy
attended as observers.
›› British Science Week March
2019: Inspiring the next generation
of Scientists. HSE marked the week
with scientists from HSE’s Science and
Research Centre visiting nearby Harpur
Hill Primary School to bring ‘STEM’
(science, technology, engineering and
maths) subjects to life. Fun, science-
based activities included: polymer
chemistry explained through making
slime; chromatography explained
through making colourful Mother’s
Day cards; and how UV light boxes
can be used for health and safety
training. Dr Jackie Morton, biological
monitoring specialist, who arranged
10
the visit, said, ‘It was great to take
hands-on science into school! The
children asked lots of questions and
got fully involved in all the activities!’
›› 2019 International Year of the
Periodic Table marked its 150th
anniversary and impact on the
modern world. HSE chemist Jackie
Morton, a member of the Royal
Society of Chemistry (RSC) Atomic
Spectroscopy Group, helped to
organise a range of RSC celebration
events. In March, a public event in
Sheffield’s Winter Gardens engaged
children in experiments and crafts
designed by RSC volunteers and
students from the University of Sheffield
and Sheffield Hallam University. In
October, a formal celebration function
was held in Sheffield followed by a
social evening for local chemists
with a periodic table made entirely
of cupcakes. Jackie has organised
an annual schools’ chemistry quiz for
schools in Sheffield since 2013 and
this year’s prizes included periodic
table themed backpacks and card
games. Jackie also chaired a special
symposium in November at the RSC’s
London headquarters covering the
breadth of atomic spectroscopy.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
›› The ‘HSE Connect 2019’ event
in February 2019 brought together
industry, the regulator, trade unions
and intermediaries to showcase
good health and safety practice.
The event included workshops by
HSE foresight specialists on new and
emerging health and safety issues
associated with digitalisation and
the changing nature of work.
Andrew Curran speaking
at HSE Connect 2019
›› 2019 ‘Health & Safety Expo’:
colleagues from across HSE
represented the organisation at
this event, the largest of its kind in
the UK. Live demonstrations of our
scientific work were given along with
insights into our ‘Shared Research’
programme. Ed Corbett, HSE Technical
Fellow and chartered occupational
psychologist, gave a keynote speech
‘Are we doing the right stuff’24 and
Jen Webster, human factors specialist,
gave a presentation on HSE’s research
on extended working lives.
›› Research needs for occupational
health: Professor Andrew Curran, HSE
Chief Scientific Adviser, and David
Fishwick, HSE Chief Medical Adviser,
facilitated discussion at an event
hosted at the House of Lords by
Lord David Blunkett on research
needs for occupational health
following the publication of an
HSE-funded report by the Society
for Occupational Medicine.25
›› Raising research profile: HSE
microbiologist Cat Makison Booth
and her research tool ‘Vomiting
Larry’, HSE’s humanoid simulated
vomiting system, visited BBC television
to take part in a ‘Queasy Quacks’
medically themed episode of the
satirical quiz programme ‘QI’.
11
Cat Makison-Booth and ‘Vomiting Larry’
Cat says, ‘Demonstrating the work
we do on documentaries and shows
like QI (which I’ve learnt stands for
Quite Interesting) is a free and in this
case fun, albeit slightly scary, way
to showcase how we help create a
safer world in a practical way that
is accessible to a wider audience
than is normally achievable.’
›› The Chartered Institute of
Ergonomics and Human Factors
(CIEHF) held a regional group
meeting at HSE’s Science and Research
Centre hosted by HSE specialists
Andrew Pinder and Matt Birtles.
Additionally, HSE colleagues, including
specialist inspectors, worked in
partnership with CIEHF to launch a new
‘Risk Reduction Through Design’ Award
which aims to help employers devise
new and innovative ways to reduce the
impact of musculoskeletal disorders.
›› International Women in
Engineering Day, ‘INWED’, in June,
which celebrates and raises the
profile of women engineers, was
proudly supported by HSE. Some of
our women engineers spoke about
their roles in the organisation on
HSE’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
Aneta Nêmcová celebrates INWED 2019
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Awards, honours and achievements
The value of our scientific expertise has been recognised by others
through various awards, honours, and other feedback.
›› Stuart Hawksworth, Head of HSE’s
Centre for Energy and Major Hazards,
and President of the International
Association for Hydrogen Safety (IAHS),
has been made visiting professor of
hydrogen safety at Ulster University.
As IAHS president, Stuart opened
the International Conference on
Hydrogen Safety in Adelaide, Australia
in September 2019: the event had
delegates from 22 countries and
included presentations of 6 peer-
reviewed papers involving HSE
scientists.26–31 Scientific American
Stuart Hawksworth
quotes 32 Stuart saying, ‘In just the past
two years, the pace at which new
hydrogen technologies and hydrogen
fuel applications have emerged is
indicative of just how important this
fuel source can be for the future,
including increasing reliance on
renewable energy sources. Clearly,
it is also a fuel with enormous clean
energy export potential as countries
all over the world seek to increase
renewables in their total energy mix.’
›› Steve Forman has been made a
Fellow of the Faculty of Occupational
Medicine. This is in recognition
of his significant contribution to
occupational medicine which
reflects what Steve has achieved
inside and outside of HSE and
his professional standing as
viewed by his senior peers.
›› Paul Pitts, exposure
assessment and control specialist,
has been invited to chair the
International Advisory Committee
on hand-arm vibration.
12
›› Chris Keen, HSE Technical Team
Lead for Occupational Hygiene
Practitioners and Chair of the British
Occupational Hygiene Society
(BOHS) Breathe Freely in Construction
Campaign, has been invited to
lead the new BOHS ‘Breathe Freely
Champions Programme’ to help
younger hygienists to develop their
ability to present and engage with
stakeholders. She has also been newly
elected to the BOHS Board of Trustees.
Chris Keen
›› Dr Chris Barber, HSE Principal
Medical Adviser, NHS consultant
respiratory physician, and current
chair of the British Thoracic Society
Occupational and Environmental Lung
Disease Specialist Advisory Group, has
been invited to chair the development of
a new BTS Occupational Asthma Clinical
Chris Barber at the British Thoracic
Society Summer Meeting
Statement. This new document will
provide updated guidance for primary
and secondary care, highlighting best
practice for the investigation, diagnosis
and management of this challenging
condition. Chris can be heard talking
about occupational respiratory
disease in a video made at the 2019
British Thoracic Society Education
and Training Summer Meeting.33
›› Chartered Status has been
awarded to: James Forder, chartered
chemist with the Royal Society of
Chemistry; and Jonathan Hall and Paul
McCann, chartered engineers with
the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
›› Emma Shanks, exposure
assessment and control specialist,
has been re-elected to the council of
the Institute of Acoustics. This will be
Emma’s third consecutive 2-year term.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020

Kate Jones receiving her
‘Inspirational Committee Award’
‘Inspirational Committee Award’
on behalf of the Royal Society of
Chemistry’s Toxicology committee.
The committee have created a
series of short videos of toxicologists
to showcase the variety of careers
available in toxicology. HSE’s head of
computational toxicology, George
Loizou, is one of those profiled – see
‘We have your poison data’.34
›› UKAS accreditation has been
awarded to HSE’s Science and
Research Centre to the new ISO
17025:2017 standard for our testing
and analytical services, and to the
ISO 17043 standard for our Proficiency
Testing sample production.
›› Rosie Whitbread, risk specialist,
was praised for her contribution
to an expert panel undertaking a
review of energy research activity
at the University of Nottingham.
Panel Chairman Mike Colechin
said ‘Your personal contribution
to this outcome was brilliant. You
brought everything I thought you
would to the panel and more.’
›› HSE Training and Events has
received a gold accreditation status
award for our HSE-NEBOSH partner
training course. The award recognises
Learning Partners who can prove
that they meet the principles that
represent global best practice. This
reflects the quality of our training
courses which are built around current
real-world expertise, are delivered
by scientists and health and safety
experts and are fully aligned with
the requirements of the regulator.
›› Simon Gant, mathematical
modelling specialist, has been
appointed chair of the Atmospheric
Dispersion Modelling Liaison
Committee. Members are from
12 government departments or
agencies, and scientific institutes

›› Kate Jones, biological monitoring ›› Tim Aldridge, risk specialist,

specialist, has been invited as an
expert member of the International
Society of Exposure Science working
group on exposure data production.
She also accepted, as chair, an
contributed to a Parliamentary briefing
note from the Parliament Office of
Science and Technology (POST)
on ‘Evaluating UK natural hazards:
the national risk assessment’.35

›› Ian Pengelly’s peer-reviewed

George Loizou: ‘We have your poison data’
research paper36 on the investigation
of possible coffee industry worker
exposure to diacetyl, a potentially
harmful chemical, was selected as
the ‘Editor’s Choice’ in the Annals
of work Exposures and Health
in recognition of its quality and The Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling Group chaired by Simon Gant (centre back)
importance for occupational health.

13
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
from the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The committee reviews scientific
understanding of atmospheric
dispersion and related phenomena
for applications such as regulation
of discharges from industrial plant.
›› ‘Science, policy and public
opinion: How the wheels turn’:
science and policy in HSE is the topic
of three videos 37–39 in this series,
which is produced and released by
the European Plasticisers Association.
HSE Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor
Andrew Curran, and colleagues at
HSE’s Science and Evidence Centre,
share their perspectives on working
at the science and policy interface.
The videos are raising awareness
internationally of HSE’s approach to
using robust scientific evidence to
inform policy and have, collectively,
been viewed over 25,000 times.
‘We try and start that process in
partnership with policy makers;
understanding the real question
they want to answer is absolutely
critical to helping them address the
issues of concern.’ Professor Andrew
Curran, Chief Scientific Adviser.
‘Our role is to make sure we
are providing robust scientific
evidence – explaining, articulating
Mary Trainor in a video about
science and policy
and describing it in a way so that it is
really clear to our policy colleagues
and to make sure that uncertainties
are well explained.’ Mary Trainor,
Head of Science Impact and Quality,
Chief Scientific Adviser’s Office
‘We provide evidence that informs
policy. It’s an iterative process, we have
a dialogue. I’m very optimistic about
the future of science, the fact that it’s
becoming multidisciplinary – all of that
has to come together to provide the
capability we have now to solve the
problems of the future.’ George Loizou,
Head of Computational Toxicology
›› Delphine Bard, exposure
measurement specialist, has been
invited by the French national
Research and Safety Institute for
the Prevention of Occupational
Accidents and Diseases, INRS, to join
the panel of international experts
14
which reviews the institute’s work. The
invitation is particularly to review INRS‘s
research on workplace exposures to
chemicals including fibres, metals,
nanoparticles and aerosols.
›› Brian Crook, microbiologist, has
achieved the significant milestone
of 100 peer-reviewed scientific
publications, 97 of which were
published while Brian was at HSE
or was working on research
funded by HSE.18
Brian Crook celebrating 100 publications
›› HSE’s Chief Medical Adviser,
Professor David Fishwick, gave a
keynote speech at the ‘Celebrating
the Best in Health and Safety by
Design’ HS2 high-speed railway
event held to showcase industry best
practice, increase understanding
of health and safety by design,
and raise standards for the rail and
wider construction industry. Professor
Fishwick graphically demonstrated
the life-limiting outcomes of exposing
lungs to dust and told delegates,
‘I want designers like you to put
physicians like me out of a job.’
›› HSE’s Research Ethics Panel,
which is accredited to the University
of Sheffield Medical School Research
Ethics Panel, received positive
feedback from the latter’s first
audit. The audit team commented,
‘HSE takes its research ethics
responsibility seriously and has
invested considerable staff time in
raising awareness of research ethics
among the staff and in developing
robust ethics review processes.’
Meet the staff
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Meet the staff
Aneta Nêmcová / Richard Isherwood
Materials Scientist / Principal Mechanical Engineer
ANETA AND RICHARD are members
of the Engineering Materials Team
and Mechanical Engineering
Team respectively at HSE’s
Science and Research Centre.
The teams work closely together
on incident investigations, using
their complementary skills to
understand the interaction between
material and component in
complex failure investigations.
Aneta completed her MSc in materials
science and engineering at Brno in
the Czech Republic, followed by a
PhD on effects of surface conditions
on fatigue of magnesium alloys.
Following an Erasmus training
placement, she then applied her skills
as a post-doctorate researcher at the
University of Manchester, focusing on
surface treatments of light alloys.
Aneta’s move from academia to HSE
in January 2019 enabled her to put her
experience of materials failure modes
into immediate use in a number of
incident investigations. Her work so
far has covered corrosion of process
plant pipelines, fatigue failures in
fairground rides and fracture of
heavy-machinery components in a
fabrication workshop. Aneta is also a
member of the team working on the
optimisation of composite wraps for
pipe repairs as part of an HSE/industry
shared research project, focusing on
how best to inspect wrapped pipes
using non-destructive methods.
Richard graduated from Salford
University with an honours degree
in mechanical engineering in 1989
and became a chartered engineer
in 2001. He worked as a design
draughtsman and spent over 15 years
in an engineering research and
development role, including failure
investigations, providing technical
support in the marine propulsion
and power generation industries.
16
Richard joined HSE in 2005 at a time
of major concerns on tower crane
safety. He led forensic engineering
investigation into the Battersea crane
collapse (2006), the Liverpool crane
collapses (2007 and 2009) and
structural damage to the jibs of a
particular crane model in 2013/2014,
including the crane collapse onto
the Whitehall cabinet building.
The findings were summarised in
several industry safety alerts and
two HSE reports,40, 41 which have
been instrumental in improving
tower crane safety. Richard has also
worked on investigations involving
plant vehicle stability, hydraulic fitting
failures, rollercoaster collisions and
derailments, replica revolvers for use
on stage, assessment of mobility
scooters, aircraft ejector seats and a
number of explosion and fire incidents.
Richard says, ‘I enjoy the variety of
different engineering disciplines and
environments that you experience
at HSE and the opportunity to work
closely with colleagues of different
experiences and disciplines when
trying to understand the reasons
behind an incident occurring.’
New recruit Aneta echoes these
sentiments: ‘The sense of collaboration
across the different groups is strong,
giving the opportunity to learn from
experienced specialists such as
Richard. I enjoy the opportunity of
applying my scientific knowledge for
understanding the causes of failures,
helping to avoid these in the future
and ultimately to improve safety.’
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Meet the staff
Dan Howard
Chemist
DAN IS A MEMBER of the Hazardous
Materials team at HSE’s Science and
Research Centre. Having obtained
his PhD in chemistry at the University
of Manchester, Dan joined HSE in
July 2018 and has been involved in
experimentally focused research
programmes involving battery testing
and reactive chemical systems.
In the battery testing work, Dan is
part of a small team investigating the
behaviour of lithium ion cells when
they are subjected to conditions
outside their normal operating window
such as excessive temperatures,
voltages or physical abuse. In
order to gain understanding of
the failure modes of the batteries
under test, Dan has taken a lead
role in setting up a mobile mass
spectrometer to enable high-
resolution analysis of gaseous hazards
produced during battery failure
(see the case study on page 24).
Dan has also had the opportunity to
get involved in the design and build
of a bespoke experimental test rig
to enable the study of gas forming
reactions. In many cases, the gases
formed are toxic and/or flammable,
requiring careful consideration of
how the experiments are carried
out safely and preferably without
damaging sensitive instrumentation.
Added to this, the fact that the rig has
to be operable remotely provides a
significant additional challenge.
In each of the projects he has been
involved in, Dan has engaged directly
with a range of cross-government
and industry stakeholders. Dan
says, ‘I have particularly enjoyed
working with others to develop
and deliver test regimes to meet
common research goals.’
17
Colleen Butler
Senior Human Factors Specialist
COLLEEN JOINED HSE in 2008 after
completing her PhD in human
factors research at the University of
Southampton. As a senior human
factors specialist at HSE’s Science and
Research Centre, Colleen’s work has
primarily involved applying human
factors expertise in the process safety, oil
and gas, aviation and energy sectors.
This involves analysis of all aspects of the
organisational system, including people,
processes, and equipment, to help
identify where to prioritise interventions
for enhanced safe performance.
Colleen’s areas of expertise are in
human error, organisational learning
and fatigue risk management.42–44
She has supported a number of
organisations to understand their fatigue
risk and build and implement fatigue ‘With the changing nature of work,
risk management systems. Colleen understanding how organisations
has a strong interest in extracting and need to constantly adjust to create
sharing good practice in fatigue risk safety is core to HSE’s work. I really
management across industry and has like the challenge and learning
recently been exploring opportunities to opportunities this presents from
do this in the offshore oil and gas sector. a human factors perspective. I
particularly like figuring out how
Colleen also provides human factors I can help industry identify and
support to HSE’s regulatory activity. manage the less visible human
This has involved assessment of safety performance related risks like
reports, revision of HSE guidance fatigue. It never gets tiring!’
and the provision of expert witness
statements in incident investigations.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Meet the staff

The Mechanical Engineering Specialist Inspectors Team

THE MECHANICAL Engineering

Specialist Inspectors Team in HSE’s
Field Operations Division has been
one of the traditional ‘heavy industry’
based disciplines, providing technical
support to incident investigations,
with team members using their
previous industrial experience to give
professional advice. However, as the
British economy has evolved and
new technologies and applications
for machinery have developed, the
team has grown and adapted to meet
these changes, recruiting from a wider
industrial and service sector base.

Although machinery may have

changed, the approach taken by the
team remains the same: consistently
applying core scientific principles to
new applications. The work is always
varied, whether that’s inspecting tool-
room machinery, mobile construction
plant, lifts and escalators, combine
harvesters or providing technical
assistance on fairgrounds, inflatables,
care homes, or even the failure of
a cross bar on a goalpost. Indeed,
it was a mechanical engineering
specialist inspector who provided
technical support in the investigation
of an incident on a movie set.
The team’s role is to provide forensic
analysis of mechanical equipment
Left to right: Mike Cooke, Mike Goodwin, Mike Downes, David Rudland, Rob Marr, Paul Grady, Sheldon
Taylor, Dominic Swan, Mick Raynor, Dave Schofield, Peter Dodd, Ian Simpson, Andrew Crouch
and work practices to support our designer, installer or user are meeting making process by HSE and the specialist
regulatory inspectors, to try to explain those benchmark expectations inspector may be subsequently required
why something unsafe has occured and, if they’re not, what needs to to give testimony based on that
(or could occur) and ascertain what be done to address the risk gap. report, in court as an expert witness.
the benchmark standard is for a given
issue or work practice. As professional Often the site visit is the more The mechanical engineering specialist
engineers, they strive to identify the straightforward part of the job. inspector doesn’t just inspect or
root cause of a mechanical failing Following this, the specialist inspector investigate incidents. They campaign
and prevent a reoccurrence. Where will compile technical reports, for better health and safety practice
necessary, a team member will recording everything they have done by crafting and reviewing internal
lead the technical aspect of the accurately and impartially – these guidance, attending industry working
investigation, calling in engineering provide the evidence for what was groups and committees, delivering
specialists at HSE’s Science and done, the analysis undertaken and presentations to professional forums
Research Centre or other specialists conclusions reached. Ultimately, and becoming involved in British
when needed, considering whether the this report forms part of the decision and international standards work.

18
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Meet the staff
Chris Quarrie / Andrew Pinder
Specialist Inspector in Human Factors and Ergonomics / Ergonomist
CHRIS AND ANDREW have worked
together for many years and are
based at HSE’s Bootle headquarters
and Buxton Centre for Science and
Research respectively. They were part
of the HSE team which won a 2019 Spirit
of One HSE Award45 for launching
the ‘Musculoskeletal Disorders Risk
Reduction through Design’ Award with
the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics
and Human Factors (CIEHF), of which
both are registered members.
Chris and Andrew played important
roles in the development of HSE’s risk
assessment tools for musculoskeletal
disorders: the Manual Handling
Assessment Charts (MAC and
V-MAC); 46,47 Assessment of Repetitive
Tasks (ART); and Risk Assessment of
Pushing and Pulling (RAPP)(see the
case study on page 45). They were also
influential in the development of HSE’s
guidance on Upper limb disorders in the
workplace (HSG60) 48, and the Manual
Handling Operations Regulations (L23).49
Chris is a specialist inspector in
human factors and ergonomics
and has had several different roles
within HSE since joining in 1999. After
gaining his degree in ergonomics
at Loughborough University, he
worked within an ergonomics
consultancy prior to joining HSE.
Chris Quarrie
Chris currently acts as the primary point
of contact for regulatory colleagues
on enforcement and advice on
musculoskeletal disorders. Through
site visits he has identified a number
of higher-risk workplace activities, for
example those associated with the
manual handling of carpets during
delivery activities. Working alongside
trade associations and HSE policymakers
19
Andrew Pinder
and ergonomists, Reducing manual
handling risks in carpet retail
(INDG439) 50 was developed. This
guidance was welcomed by industry
and can also be used to manage
the risks associated with delivering
other items such as white goods. It
demonstrates how HSE works with
stakeholders to develop fit for purpose
advice and good practice information.
Andrew has a PhD in ergonomics
and joined HSE in 1996, prior to which
he carried out research on human
strength. His expertise on manual
handling and musculoskeletal
disorders supports HSE policymakers
and specialist inspectors, as well
as external organisations.
Andrew has written on the effectiveness
of manual handling technique
training and is a member of a PEROSH
technical group that won the Applied
Ergonomics 2017 Best Paper Award
for work on wearable devices.16
Andrew’s epidemiological work
includes prospective validations of
whether the US NIOSH lifting equation51
and the MAC tool can predict lost-
time low-back injuries and he has
examined the feasibility of carrying
out an intervention study to prevent
the incidence of musculoskeletal
disorders in the workplace.
His work on manual handling includes
looking at household kerbside waste
collection11 (see the case study on
page 46) and brick packing workers.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Meet the staff
Rhiannon Williams
Fire scientist
RHIANNON JOINED HSE in January 2016
as a support scientist within the Explosive
Atmospheres Team at the Science and
Research Centre, moving to a new
post within the Fire and Thermofluids
Team in 2018. She has contributed
to numerous experiments, incident
investigations and research projects
across both these research areas.
As one of the technicians within the
battery safety projects team, Rhiannon
is often found working on the effects
of battery abuse or misuse, such as
creating short circuits, overheating
and overcharging – which can lead
to thermal runaway or cell failure.
At other times, she is involved in the
testing of new refrigerants in order
to find their ignition temperatures,
an important consideration when
such products are used in car air-
conditioning systems, for example.
Rhiannon is currently studying for a Fire
Engineering Degree at the University of
Central Lancashire – sponsored by HSE.
She says, ‘Working for HSE has given
me the opportunity to develop my
skills and knowledge in both science
and engineering. I thoroughly
look forward to progressing in my
career, working towards my degree,
expanding my professional network
and researching in an area which, not
only am I passionate about, but will
also give me the ability to change,
and perhaps even save, people’s lives.’
20
Mark Woods
Health Scientist
MARK HAS A background in
biomedical science and worked
in the NHS and pharmaceutical
industry, before joining HSE in 1995.
He has a PhD in haematology
from the University of Sheffield.
As a health scientist at HSE’s
headquarters in Bootle, Mark’s main
role is to manage HSE’s permissioning
schemes for appointing doctors to
conduct medical surveillance and
fitness to work assessments as required
under health and safety regulations.
Mark says, ‘I enjoy the variety of
The work covers statutory medicals work that I am involved in and
required for individuals working with the challenges it can present. My
asbestos, ionising radiation, lead role provides an opportunity to
and specific chemicals, as well as work with policy, regulatory and
those working in compressed-air scientific colleagues and contribute
tunnelling and commercial diving. evidence to help inform policy.’
The role includes advising doctors on
the appointment process, providing
guidance on how to conduct statutory
medical examinations and auditing
the performance of appointed doctors.
Mark also provides guidance and
advice to internal HSE stakeholders
and external stakeholders, including
other government departments,
on occupational health issues.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Meet the staff
Alison McGillivray / Zoe Chaplin
Risk Assessment Specialist / Consequence Modeller and Risk Assessment Scientist
ALISON AND ZOE both work at HSE’s
Science and Research Centre.
Alison joined HSE in 2005 after
completing her undergraduate
degree in physics with meteorology
and her master’s degree in remote
sensing and image processing,
both at the University of Edinburgh.
Alison’s main specialism is
consequence modelling for major
hazard risk assessment, using
mathematical ‘integral’ models such
as Phast52 and Drift.53 Over the past
nine years she has used her skills in a
number of HSE incident investigations
to model the extent and consequences
of uncontrolled releases in onshore
and offshore environments (see the
case study on page 36). She has also
been heavily involved in consequence
modelling for carbon capture and
storage (CCS) scoping projects for
industry.54 On one particular project
she modelled the consequences
associated with a CCS demonstration
plant where 1 million tonnes of
carbon dioxide was being injected
into underground storage over a trial
period of three years in Decatur, Illinois.
Other areas of interest to Alison include
providing training, and COMAH and
offshore safety case assessment.
Zoe Chaplin (left) and Alison McGillivray
Alison says, ‘Incident work is so varied
in causes and consequences, it’s
interesting trying to understand why
something happened and how it
can be represented by a model.
Work can pop up when I least expect
it, so it keeps me on my toes.’
Zoe joined the Risk Assessment
Methods team in 2008, after working
21
on mathematical models for various
industries including transport and
weather. She has a degree in
mathematics from the University
of Bristol and a master’s in fluid
dynamics from Cranfield University.
Zoe’s work is varied, although her
main specialism is major accident
hazard pipelines 53,55–58 (see the case
study an page 42). She is responsible
for the ongoing development of
HSE’s risk assessment model for
pipelines, which is used to provide
information for land-use planning
purposes. This involves reviewing,
developing and implementing
new mathematical models as
required, as well as more general
maintenance of the existing systems.
Zoe has been involved in projects
investigating the possibility of
repurposing gas pipelines for
hydrogen or carbon dioxide usage.
Previously she has worked on the
investigation into the Shoreham
Airshow crash,59 aircraft crash rates,
electric car charging at home, and
offshore windfarms, to name but a few.
Zoe says, ‘I love the wide variety of
work that I do. I am constantly learning
about new technologies and industries,
as well as meeting new people, all
of which I find really interesting.’
Most recently, Alison and Zoe have
both been actively involved with
supporting the UK Space Agency in
identifying suitable methodologies
to assess the risks from spaceports for
vertical and horizontal launches. This is
to help with the government’s intention
to develop the UK space industry.60
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Meet the staff
Shaun Donaghy
Chief Economist
SHAUN IS AN economist with a
background in health and work.
He joined HSE in 2018 from Public
Health England where he led the
development of a prioritisation
framework for local authorities and
return on investment tools. Before
that, Shaun worked in the Department
for Work and Pensions for ten years –
he was the policy lead for mental
health and employment as well
as the economic adviser for the
Mesothelioma Act and the review of
the GB Work Capability Assessment.
Shaun has enjoyed being able to
feed into the strategic direction of
HSE and contribute to the wellbeing
of Bootle colleagues through weekly
mindfulness groups. Working on
statutory research and analysis as well
as commercial and strategic work has
enabled him to quickly get to know
people from across the organisation.
Shaun says, ‘I came to HSE to
develop myself and broaden my
experience, I’m very happy to say
that it has exceeded my expectations.
What I didn’t expect is how warmly
I’ve been welcomed. I manage a
fantastic mixed team of researchers
and economists – the people of
HSE are its biggest strength.’
22
Jackie Morton
Biomonitoring Specialist
JACKIE IS A principal scientist within
HSE’s Biological Monitoring Team.
Her expertise is in monitoring human
exposures to toxic elements and
inorganic substances. These range
from ‘traditional’ heavy metals such
as lead, cadmium and mercury to
elements of carcinogenic concern,
such as arsenic and hexavalent
chromium, and sensitisers including
beryllium and nickel. Jackie
has pioneered new analytical
techniques and approaches
including hair analysis for methyl
mercury, arsenic speciation in urine
and chromium speciation in exhaled In addition to her innovative
breath condensate. All these analytical research, Jackie is a
techniques have enabled more scientist who very much believes in
specific determination of exposures staff development. She has been
to these hazardous elements.61–64 a mentor and co-supervisor to
several PhD students, including those
Jackie’s current projects include doing part-time research at HSE,
the development of single particle and supports others in academic
analysis, which may allow the study. She is actively involved in
differentiation of respirable outreach activities, including science
crystalline silica exposure,65 for primary schools and through
which causes silicosis and other volunteering for her local section
lung diseases, from exposure of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
to soluble silicates. She is also
further developing speciation Jackie says, ‘I really enjoy
methods, with a focus on communicating my passion for
manganese, a neurotoxin, where analytical chemistry and helping
it is currently difficult to interpret others to understand its value, be that
results from the measurement of with colleagues, research students
manganese in biological fluids. or the scientists of the future.’
Case studies
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Keeping pace with change
Innovation in battery technology – safely enabling the Industrial Strategy
THE UK GOVERNMENT Industrial Strategy
sets out how government is building a
Britain fit for the future – ensuring that
our country can embrace and benefit
from the opportunity of technological
change. Unlike industrial revolutions
of the past, our new industrial strategy
needs to be powered by sustainable,
clean energy. As such, there is growing
demand for batteries for electrification.
The government is investing heavily
in research and innovation, and new
facilities to scale-up and advance
the production, use, and recycling
of batteries. Initially focus is on
the automotive sector to meet the
growing demand for electric vehicles,
investment in this area will help
advance battery development for other
applications for an electrified economy.
New technologies introduce new
challenges – including health and
safety. HSE responded to these
challenges by hosting ‘Innovation in
Battery Technology – Safely Enabling
the Industrial Strategy’.66 This event
brought together stakeholders across
regulators, industry, academia,
researchers and standards makers to
focus on meeting the technical and
scientific challenges – ensuring that
safety scenarios are understood, and
potential risks are effectively controlled.
Jonathan Buston, HSE battery safety expert
Keynote speakers gave the latest
thinking within industry and
government, combined with
presentations from HSE specialists
who shared insight from working with
industry on managing risks related
to the handling, storage and use of
energy systems containing lithium-ion
batteries across different applications
and real-world hazard scenarios.
24
What were the benefits?
By bringing together industry,
researchers, standards makers
and regulators, this HSE event
has strengthened knowledge
and awareness of the technical
challenges needed to enable the
safe introduction of innovative
energy technologies that
contain lithium-ion batteries –
a key pathway to an electrified
economy and a sustainable,
clean energy system.
For more information see
Innovation in battery technology. 66
There were over 175 delegates
at the event including:
technological innovation
specialists; risk management
specialists; emergency services
and first responders; equipment
manufacturers; health and safety Funding source
professionals; and policy advisers. Commercial events
and training
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Keeping pace with change
Enabling the safe introduction of hydrogen as a low-carbon energy vector
IN 2019 THE UK government legislated
to commit the country to reach net
zero carbon target by 2050. Moving
to low-carbon energy sources is
essential if this is to be achieved
and will also increase the UK’s
energy security and resilience.
Through its role as independent
regulator and leader in the health
and safety system, HSE is helping to
enable this to happen safely, building
public assurance and acceptance of
new and novel energy technologies.
Hydrogen is a ‘vector’ that can be
used to store energy produced in low-
carbon ways. Information needs to
be gathered across power, heat and
transport applications to understand
how hydrogen could be safely
utilised in a carbon neutral future. The
scientific evidence generated by HSE’s
unique, interdisciplinary capability
at our Science and Research Centre
in Buxton supports this ambition.
25
HSE’s research scientists are working
with colleagues in HSE’s Energy
Division to enable innovation and
technical developments for hydrogen
applications across the whole
system – power, heat and transport –
in national and international
projects such as; HyDeploy, H21,
H100, Hy4Heat, HyTunnel-CS, PRESLHY
and High Hydrogen Project.
HSE scientists presented a series
of papers at the 2019 International
Conference for Hydrogen Safety in
Australia. This covered topics such as:
›› technical and regulatory
challenges of introducing
hydrogen into the gas network;
›› materials aspects associated
with the addition of up to 20%
hydrogen into an existing natural
gas distribution network;
›› operation of UK gas appliances
with hydrogen blended natural gas;
›› gas detection of hydrogen/natural
gas blends in the gas industry; and
›› flow of hydrogen from buried leaks.
What were the benefits?
As demonstrated in the
international conference, the
UK is leading the way globally
for the safe use of hydrogen
within the gas networks, utilising
controlled demonstration
projects and a collaborative
approach between industry,
academia and HSE to generate
new information. Such projects
and demonstrations present a
pathway to safely achieve the UK’s
2050 net zero carbon targets.
For more information see the
HyDeploy project details on the
OFGEM website. 67 The HyDeploy
project website gives further
information, 68 and conference
papers presented at the 2019
International Conference
for Hydrogen Safety. 26–31
Funding source
HSE and OFGEM, Cadent,
NGN, SGN, Progressive
Energy, Keele University,
ITM Power and DNV-GL
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Supporting small employers
Advancing human biomonitoring to provide evidence for chemicals policy making
MANY WORKERS ARE potentially
exposed to hazardous chemicals.
A scientific initiative in Europe
(HBM4EU) is coordinating and
advancing human biomonitoring. It
is generating evidence of the actual
exposure of citizens to chemicals
and the possible health effects in
order to inform policy making.
HSE has primarily been involved in
the projects’ occupational working
group. To date this has involved
organising an occupational survey
of workers potentially exposed to the
carcinogen hexavalent chromium in
electroplating, welding and surface
coating tasks. The companies involved
ranged from large employers to
small to medium enterprises (SMEs);
many plating operations are SMEs.
Eight countries have each sampled
about 50 workers, taking blood, urine
and exhaled breath condensate
samples, as well as air and hand wipe
samples. As a leading institute in this
analysis, HSE scientists have provided
a training session to European
partners on sampling and have run
an inter-laboratory testing scheme.
Kate Jones and Liz Leese, biomonitoring experts
In addition, HSE provided training on
glyphosate analysis and contributed to
literature reviews for isocyanates and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
HSE scientists also submitted some
26
copper biomonitoring data that
will be uploaded to a pan-Europe
platform, IPChem, a single access
point for locating and retrieving
chemical monitoring data collections.
What were the benefis?
Agreeing common scientific
sampling procedures and
quality approval of participating
laboratories will ensure that
the results will be comparable
across different countries. This
will provide a baseline dataset
that can be used to determine
the impact of regulation, such as
the authorisation of hexavalent
chromium use, on workers’ health.
It will also evaluate more specific
biomarkers including for assessing
hexavalent chromium exposure.
This will enable better risk
assessment by dutyholders and
reduce the risk of worker ill health.
For more information see
journal publication Setting up a
collaborative European human
biological monitoring study
on occupational exposure to
hexavalent chromium. 69
Funding source
HSE and ‘Horizon 2020’
European Union
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Supporting small employers

Reducing the risk of silicosis associated with processing artificial and natural stones

SILICOSIS IS AN IRREVERSIBLE disabling worktops, involving cutting and

lung disease caused by inhalation of
dust containing respiratory crystalline
silica. Artificial (sintered) stone is an
increasingly popular material and
usually contains very high levels of
crystalline silica. It is commonly used
to fabricate kitchen and bathroom
Wind tunnel facilities at HSE’s Buxton
Science and Research Centre
polishing of the material in situ.
Processing the stone can create
high airborne concentrations of
respirable crystalline silica to which
workers could be exposed. The
frequency of cases of accelerated
silicosis in younger workers due to
this exposure is rapidly increasing
globally, with outbreaks reported
from Israel, Australia, Italy, Spain
and the USA. Although there have
not been any similar cases reported
to the UK surveillance scheme
(SWORD),70 there remains a concern
that the use of artificial stone in the
UK is very likely to present a potential
risk to the health of exposed workers.
A range of different materials,
including resin, sintered, and
natural stone products, were cut
and polished inside HSE’s large dust
tunnel facility. A multidisciplinary
HSE team, including measurement
and control scientists, analytical
chemists, fibres and minerals experts
and medical scientists from the
HSE Centre for Workplace Health,
used a wide range of techniques
to characterise the dust and
fume emitted by silica content,
chemical composition, particle
size, particle mass and shape.
What were the benefits?
Work is ongoing internationally
to better understand the toxicity
of the dust generated by working
with different types of artificial
stone, in particular whether
there are significant differences
between artificial and natural stone
products. Our research is helping us
understand the properties of the dust
and any organic material released
when processing artificial stones. It
will better inform HSE and industry
when assessing risk, determining
the appropriateness of exposure
control measures such as on-tool
exhaust ventilation and respiratory
protective equipment, and deciding
appropriate training and information
for employers and workers.
For more information see journal
publications: Epidemiology of
silicosis: reports from the SWORD
scheme in the UK from 1996 to 2017,71
Artificial stone-associated silicosis
in the UK,72 Exposure to respirable
crystalline silica in the GB brick
manufacturing and stone working
industries,73 and Determination of
respirable-sized crystalline silica in
different ambient environments in
the United Kingdom with a mobile
high flow rate sampler utilising
porous foams to achieve the
required particle size selection.74

27
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Supporting small employers
Improving HSE’s evidence base on occupational exposure to wood dusts
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT burden of
serious respiratory disease associated
with wood dust exposures in British
industry. This disease is largely
preventable through the adoption of
good exposure control practice. In
2020 the workplace exposure limit for
personal exposure to airborne wood
dust will be reduced. HSE occupational
scientists aimed to provide a
clearer understanding of how well
dust exposure is being controlled
in high-risk industrial sectors.
HSE’s occupational hygienists
visited 22 woodworking companies
in the manufacturing sector, the
majority of which were small and
medium-sized enterprises, to assess
dust exposures and the associated
control strategies. The information
from these visits was combined with
information from HSE’s extensive library
of occupational hygiene reports to
provide further insights. This included
a focus on cleaning activities which
are known to make a significant
contribution to overall exposures.
Airborne dust present during
construction activities is from a range
of different sources. A new analytical
method was developed to provide
a clearer understanding of wood
dust exposures in the construction
28
industry, where the wood dust is
only one component of the total
airborne dust. Information from the
new method provides evidence
for our understanding of wood
dust exposures in construction.
What were the benefits?
This work has delivered:
›› information to allow HSE to
conduct an evidence-based
assessment on the impact
of a new reduced wood dust
workplace exposure limit;
›› exposure control benchmarks to
underpin inspection activities;
›› a new analytical assay
which will facilitate a clearer
understanding of respiratory
exposure globally in the
construction sector.
For more information see HSE
research reports Industrial
cleaning75 and Wood dust in
manufacturing,76 and journal
publications A study to assess
the performance of an ‘X-ray
powder diffraction with Rietveld’
approach for measuring the
crystalline and amorphous
components of inhalable dust
collected on aerosol sampling
filters,77 and The measurement
of wood in construction dust
samples: a furnace-based thermal
gravimetric approach.78
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Sharing our success
Collaborating with Dstl to protect people from major hazards
Liquid leaking from an overturned tanker (photo courtesy of Pixabay)
HSE AND THE DEFENCE Science and
Technology Laboratory (Dstl) both
use complex mathematical models
of fires, explosions and gas dispersion
as part of their primary roles in
supporting the UK government.
There is a significant overlap in the
understanding HSE and Dstl need
about how flammable and toxic
substances can affect people. This
includes workers and the public in
the case of HSE, or overseas armed
forces and civilians in the case of Dstl.
In particular fire, explosion and toxic
substances present a major hazard
with the potential to cause significant
harm to people in the vicinity, whether
that is due to an unintentional or
intentional release of a substance.
Military personnel donning
respirators (Defence Images)
29
What were the benefits?
Both organisations have benefitted
from the collaboration which, has
allowed them to share expertise
and resources leading to improved
knowledge across government
on the behaviour of fire and gas
dispersion. This has ensured that
the models used by HSE and Dstl
are kept up to date to protect
people in a changing world as
new hazards are identified.
For more information see the
HSE and Dstl have been working conference paper Development
collaboratively on a wide range of of a model for spills of liquids
projects, sharing modelling knowledge. on porous surfaces.79
As part of this HSE’s scientists provide
Dstl with modelling and fluid dynamics
technical expertise. Each organisation
uses modelling tools that have been
developed for their own specific
needs but much of the science upon
which they are based is the same.
HSE scientists have recently been
involved in developing new
mathematical models to simulate the
behaviour of spills of hazardous liquids
and the initial conditions of a pool fire. Funding source
Dstl and HSE
These new models will be used to
feed into Dstl’s wider modelling suite.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Sharing our success

Providing asbestos proficiency testing schemes

ASBESTOS-RELATED DISEASE remains
a significant problem, with over 5000
deaths per year in Great Britain from
asbestos-related diseases.80 Despite
the total prohibition of asbestos
use since 1999, it was ubiquitous
for many decades, and asbestos-
containing materials still persist
in huge numbers of buildings.
A sizeable industry has developed
to mitigate the ongoing risks of
asbestos exposure, a crucial part
of which are laboratories providing
asbestos testing services. Proficiency
testing (PT) is an important tool
that enables these laboratories to
verify the accuracy and reliability
of their testing. Each scheme covers
a specific test or measurement and
is used to monitor and evaluate
laboratories’ continuing performance.
Exchange Scheme was developed
in 1978 and since then four further
schemes have been developed.
The Asbestos in Materials Scheme
has been running since 1997 and
in the last ten years, the Asbestos
in Soils Scheme, Scanning Electron
Microscopy Scheme and, most
recently, the Low Asbestos Content
Scheme have been developed.
Growth of users of HSE’s PT business
has been rapid over the last decade.
What were the benefits?
Satisfactory participation in
proficiency testing schemes
helps laboratories demonstrate
technical competence and
enhances customer confidence
in participating laboratories. HSE
also benefits as the technical
competence of asbestos
laboratories helps support the
implementation of the Control of
Asbestos Regulations 2012.81
For more information see
Proficiency testing schemes.82

HSE’s fibres and minerals scientists

developed and operates five asbestos
PT schemes, each addressing a
particular need within the industry.
The Regular Inter-Laboratory Counting

Funding source
Commercial service

30
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Sharing our success

Videos for the World Health Organisation to protect workers

in laboratories handling biological agents

EXPOSURE TO BIOLOGICAL agents procedures form a fundamental HSE’s specialists produced a

can cause diseases of varying
severity, toxic effects and allergy
depending on the type of agent.
Therefore, laboratories such as those in
hospitals, research establishments and
pharmaceutical companies need to
ensure their workers are protected from
the biological agents being handled.
Laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs)
have been found to be caused mostly
by human errors or violations, for
example not following procedures
correctly, rather than failures in areas
such as engineering controls. As such,
good microbiological practices and
part of laboratory biosafety. These
incorporate a number of factors
including: aseptic technique; correct
selection and use of biosafety
control measures; discipline in
conducting risk assessments; and
following standard operating
procedures alongside appropriate
training of laboratory personnel.
Collectively, these help to protect
the laboratory workforce, and
the wider community, against
accidental exposures to, or
releases of, pathogenic biological
agents and other hazards.
series of seven videos for the WHO What were the benefits?
reference library to support the
training of personnel in the safe and As the quality of laboratory
secure operation of laboratories facilities and the availability
globally. These included good of engineering controls vary
microbiological practices and considerably around the globe,
procedures for the following: the training videos were produced
to a level that was intuitive to
›› personal protective equipment; all. They not only demonstrate
›› waste management; good universal practice but also
›› surface disinfection; suggest practical alternatives to
›› transport; address instances where there
›› workflow; may be a lack of equipment or
›› sharps; and other common challenges.
›› pipettes.
The videos received very positive
feedback from WHO senior staff
and other professionals in the
field. The videos are on WHO’s
YouTube channel where they can
be used to support the safe and
secure operation of laboratories.

For more information see

the video series available
on the WHO website.83

Funding source
Stills from the World Health Organisation videos World Health Organisation

31
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Sharing our success
Specialist support for the regulation of major hazards and
sharing lessons learned through training courses
ONE OF HSE’S KEY purposes is to ensure
that ‘major hazards’ are properly
managed in industries where failures
in safety management and risk
control can lead to catastrophic harm
to workers and the public at large.
Examples are the onshore chemical
process industries and offshore oil
installations. Specialists at HSE’s
Science and Research Centre support
regulatory colleagues in meeting
regulatory requirements, for example
in the areas of process safety, fire
and explosion hazards, and human
and organisational factors. This work
includes specialist aspects of report
assessment and site visits under the
Control of Major Accident Hazards
(COMAH) Regulations, and offshore
‘safety case’ inspection and assessment.
32
This activity provides a real word
perspective of the wider major
hazard industry – both current
industry good practice and pitfalls.
One way in which this knowledge is
used to steer industry towards better
practice is through HSE’s portfolio
of training courses. Current courses
include COMAH technical writing,
Hazardous Area Classification and
the NEBOSH HSE certificate in Process
Safety Management. Since 2006,
around 2,500 delegates have been
trained on these specialist courses.
What were the benefits?
The multidisciplinary scientific
expertise at HSE’s Science and
Research Centre provides in depth
support to specialist aspects
of major hazards regulation.
Additionally, the knowledge
developed through this activity on
how to comply with regulations,
and pitfalls to negotiate, is made
available to dutyholders through
our training courses. Trainees often
find the most valuable aspect
is the interaction between the
trainer and the trainees. There is
also an opportunity to network
between the trainees themselves.
For further information see
HSE training and events.84
Funding source
HSE (research), cost
recovery (safety cases),
and commercial
training and events
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Sharing our success
Protecting the environment: updating the UK protocol for
pesticide boom spraying drift-reduction technology
IF PESTICIDE SPRAY REACHES areas
other than the intended crop, it is
called spray drift. To protect the
environment, some pesticides require
drift-reducing technology, which is
assessed and officially recognised,
to protect the environment. The ‘Local
Environmental Risk Assessment for
Pesticides’ scheme was introduced
20 years ago with three drift reduction
classes for spray nozzles, 25%, 50% and
75%. Additionally, a protocol for wind
tunnel testing of nozzle performance
was established. The protocol needed
updating to allow tests of nozzles
angled forwards or backwards,
improve the analysis of results,
change the reference nozzle used for
comparative testing, and recognise
better levels of drift reduction.
Scientists at Silsoe Spray Applications
Unit Ltd, in agreement with HSE
specialists, have made incremental
improvements to the wind tunnel
protocol. For example, to allow
testing of angled sprays, the nozzle
is transported across the airflow.
This separates the effects of forward
speed and wind speed, making
the distance to the collector
independent of nozzle angle. Silsoe
have gained accreditation to the
33
international quality standard for
testing and calibration laboratories
(ISO 17025) and agreed a new method
of assessing results to increase
confidence in the approach.
What were the benefits?
The new protocol for pesticide
boom spraying drift-reduction
technology supports a 90% drift-
reduction class. This recognises
improved drift control and
allows updating of the Local
Environmental Risk Assessment for
Pesticides scheme. This may permit
authorisation of pesticides where
75% drift reduction is not sufficient.
Costs to applicants are reduced by
the more transparent calculation
method and adoption of the
international quality standard
reference nozzle will permit use of
the data by different countries.
For more information see
conference publication Recent
changes to the UK protocol
for determining star ratings
for drift-reducing nozzles and
equipment for boom spraying.85
Funding source
Defra and commercial
funding
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Sharing our success
Protecting British troops from biological warfare agents
THE DEFENCE SCIENCE and Technology
Laboratory (Dstl) is developing novel
personal sampling technologies to
detect biological warfare agents
to better protect troops in the field.
However, current commercially
available options are impractical for
many Ministry of Defence applications
as they require a separate sampler,
pump and connecting tubing. Dstl,
Wind tunnel facilities at HSE’s Buxton
Science and Research Centre
in collaboration with the University
of Hertfordshire, had designed two
personal samplers which operate
as small standalone devices. Both
samplers were designed to collect
as large a sample as possible
to maximise the probability of
particle detection. Dstl asked a
team of HSE scientific experts,
including microbiologists and
34
aerosol specialists, to determine
the efficiency of the new samplers
in order to assess whether they
were suitable for use in the field.
Inside the large wind tunnel facilities
at HSE’s Buxton Science and Research
Centre, the samplers were challenged
with aerosols of dust and bacterial
spores at two different wind speeds.
What were the benefits?
HSE’s unique facilities and
established methods enabled
independent testing of
the Defence Science and
Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl)
prototype technologies. The
results generated from the
trial will assist Dstl to carry out
operational analysis studies
on the effectiveness of using
personal sampler or personal
biological detection technologies
on military operations. If the
personal sampling concept is
taken forward by the Ministry
of Defence these data can be
used to help define equipment
specifications to increase the
protection of military personnel.
Funding source
Dstl
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Acting together

High-quality health and safety statistics to inform decision making

an important role to make sure that

policy, press and ministerial statements What were the benefits?
continue to meet professional
standards of statistical presentation, The annual fatal injury statistics
including accuracy, clarity and are important drivers for good
impartiality. For the latest fatal injury management of health and
publication, this involved advising on safety at work. They are widely
the HSE press statement, responding to disseminated, and the workplace
a number of Parliamentary questions fatal injury report itself was one
and media requests, and providing of the most downloaded links
extensive contribution at short across the HSE site over the period
notice to ministerial speeches and following the release. The statistics
briefing material for a Westminster received extensive coverage
Hall debate on workplace deaths. both in national and specialised
media and also in Parliament.

Health and For more information see HSE

safety
Vital statis at work: releases Fatal Injuries in Great
tics 2019 Overall pict Britain86 and Mesothelioma in
1m.illi4
ure for Grea
t Britain
Great Britain,87 HSE press release
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on 0.6
million 2 8.2 HSE releases annual injury and
cases (new d ill health
standing) or long - Workers sust
million
HSE’S STATISTICIANS ARE responsible the highest profile in terms of media in 2018/19
Source: Estima
from the Laboutes based on self-re
non -fatal aining a
injury in 2018
/19 Working day
to work-relates lost due
ill-health statistics for Great
ports and non -fata d ill health

Britain,88 Parliamentary Question

worked in r Force Survey

for producing official statistics on and political interest. These statistics

the last 12
months
, people who Source: Estima
injuries in l workplace
from the Laboutes based on self-re 2018/19
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workplace injuries and ill health. have been accredited as National Health at wo Statistics on Health and Safety in
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in 2018/19 disorder cas etal Lung dise

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society and economy as a whole. relation to trustworthiness, quality and 147 2,526
Costs to Brita
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value, and are fully compliant with the Fatal injuries
in 2018/19 to workers
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in 2017, with a deaths
number of a similar Annual cos
n
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Diseases and
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mesothelioma deaths, is arguably are released HSE statisticians have

35
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Acting together
Dispersion modelling of hydrocarbon released from an offshore well blowout
THE DUTYHOLDER of an offshore
drilling platform in the North Sea was
in the process of plugging a non-
producing well in preparation for
abandonment when there was an
uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons.
In the days leading up to the events,
pressure measurements in three
of the four wellhead annuli (ring
chambers surrounding the central
tubing) showed sudden increases
and decreases in pressure. An
intervention plan was put in place
by the dutyholder to resolve the
ongoing pressure issues. However,
there was a further sudden increase
in pressure within the inner annuli
which subsequently lead to a
36
gas release through the outer
annulus. The release was detected What were the benefits?
by the passive gas detection
system and was later identified as This work supported HSE’s
containing gas and condensate. case for prosecution – the
dutyholder pleaded guilty and
Wellhead blowouts are able to release was fined. It also helps highlight
a significant amount of flammable the dangers that workers face
hydrocarbon which is able to travel in the offshore industry.
throughout the platform due to factors
such as wind driven dispersion. There For more information see HSE
are numerous ignition sources on website Offshore Fire, explosion
board (eg flares) and if the cloud and risk assessment.92
reaches them, ignition is a potential
consequence. To ensure safety of
the workers, the rig was evacuated,
and all wells were shut down until the
release was contained. The cause
of the release was determined to
be corrosion in the well casing.
Specialists at HSE’s Science and
Research Centre led the integral
mathematical consequence
modelling to determine if
anyone was at risk during the
incident. This included:
›› modelling the extent of the
flammable cloud; and
›› determining the size of a
potential fireball, assuming
immediate ignition occurs,
and the associated thermal
radiation harm contours.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Acting together

Investigation of fatal explosion at Celsa Steelworks

WORK ON AN accumulator (a large
pressure vessel) located in the
basement of a steel works was taking
place without a full risk assessment.
The importance of isolating the
heater had not been identified and
the heater had been left on while
the oil was being drained. This
resulted in the ignition of flammable
oil vapours within the accumulator,
killing the two men working on the
accumulator and injuring five others.
A multidisciplinary team of HSE
scientists looked at a number of
aspects of the incident. These
included site visits and investigation of:
›› the control system for the heater;
›› the temperature the heater and
accumulator would reach;
›› the pressures achieved by
an ignition of oil vapour;
›› the pressures needed to cause
failure of the accumulator and
the destruction observed;
›› the condition of the
accumulator; and
›› photography and laser scanning
records recorded by HSE experts.
The work concluded that there
were no pre-existing defects, and
that the failure of the accumulator
and the level of destruction
could not have resulted from
normal operating pressures.
What were the benefits?
The work by HSE scientists provided
robust scientific evidence to the
court resulting in a successful
prosecution. The company
pleaded guilty and were fined
£1.8m and £145,000 in costs. The
Judge said ‘Investigation by the
HSE and by the experts instructed
by them has been painstaking.
I pay tribute to the ongoing work of
the Executive in Wales and England
in attempting to ensure the safety
of people at work and, particularly,
their work in investigating
and prosecuting this case.’
For more information see BBC News
Article93 and HSE press release.94

The damaged accumulator at Celsa Steelworks

37
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Acting together
Incident investigation following the death of a child in a disability lift
ON 13TH AUGUST 2015, a five-year-old
girl was fatally injured by a domestic
lift when her head became trapped
in a disability lift at her family
home. Damage to the lift door had
caused a hole (see image below)
where the child had put her head
during the operation of the lift.
HSE mechanical engineers conducted
extensive testing and determined
that the vision panel that had been
installed in the lift door was not in
accordance with the lift specification.
They carried out further testing to
determine how much force would have
been required to break the panel.
The results from this examination
were coupled with a microscopy
examination to determine the
direction of the impact.
A series of issues were identified
during the investigation, including:
›› inadequate design of the lift;
›› lack of inspection routine/
checks made by the
responsible companies;
›› modification to the key switch
used from factory installation; and
›› negligence in repairing the
damaged panel following
previous inspections.
38
The investigation identified that the
damaged vision panel had probably
been struck from outside of the lift door.
The inadequacy of the material used for
the construction resulted in the panel
remaining attached to the lift, leaving
a hole at its centre. The key switch used
to control operation of the lift had
been modified from factory installation
to allow removal of the key in any
position. Because the switch was in the
‘on’ position with the key removed, it
could be operated by anyone at any
time. If either the hole had not been
present or there had been adequate
control of the key switch at the time,
this incident would not have occurred.
What were the benefits?
The work by HSE engineers
provided robust scientific
evidence to the court resulting in
a successful prosecution. The two
companies responsible for this
tragic death were fined a total of
£1.5m; £1m to Synergy Housing
Limited (Landlord) and £533,000 to
the lift company Orona Ltd under
the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Carlos Sanchez, who conducted
the failure analysis of the fractured
vision panel from the door of the
domestic lift says, ‘Conducting
investigations where someone
has been killed can be very
emotional, so it is important to
remain professional during the
course of the investigation. It
is rewarding to know that the
completed work has led to justice.’
For more information see
HSE press release.95
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Acting together
Discovering safety: Development of tools to support risk improvement
decisions at the design stages of construction projects
IF HEALTH AND SAFETY is to
benefit from the use of building
information modelling tools on
construction projects,96 then it is
essential that the data needed
to make the right decisions from
a health and safety perspective
are made readily available at
the design stages of projects
This research challenge provides
the focus of work being undertaken
on HSE’s Lloyd’s Register Foundation
funded Discovering Safety Programme.
The project is using state of
the art text mining and natural
language processing techniques
to extract relevant lessons learned
39
from HSE’s archive of regulatory
information, accrued over the
last 30 years from its regulation
of the UK construction sector.
In parallel with this, the project
research team are working with
representatives from across the
construction industry on the
development of a number of
software tools which will enable
HSE’s construction sector datasets
to be intelligently linked to building
information modelling tools for
interrogation by project designers.
Ultimately, the project outputs, will
provide designers on construction
projects with a queryable knowledge
resource to support health and
safety risk mitigation decisions
on their projects. A prototype tool
that will be piloted by industry is
currently under development.
What were the benefits?
A key benefit of the work is that
it will allow better consideration
of health and safety risks at the
design stages of projects. In
particular, the work will provide
much greater opportunities for
risks to be mitigated through
elimination rather than over
reliance on administrative
measures, implemented once
construction operations have
actually started, which tend
to be less effective options.
For more information see
the website Discovering
safety: Construction risk
knowledge management.97
Funding source
Lloyd’s Register
Foundation Discovering
Safety Programme
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Managing risk well
Effective containment systems and safe plume dispersion from laboratories
LABORATORIES HANDLE A wide
range of chemicals, many of
which can be hazardous to health
if inhaled. It is critical that the right
containment extraction systems
are used to handle such chemicals
and they are sited correctly within
a well-designed laboratory.
In addition, the fume discharge to
the outside needs to be carefully
considered to minimise re-entry of
potentially contaminated air back
into the laboratory as well, ensuring
that the discharged air is sufficiently
diluted and dispersed to minimise the
risk to people outside of the building.
This can be an issue for laboratories
where the containment strategy
and installation has evolved over a
period of time and is implicit in the
design of laboratory refurbishment
and new-build projects.
HSE scientists address these issues by
a combination of on-site assessment,
for existing laboratories, coupled
with mathematical plume dispersion
HSE sampler (far right) in use
40
modelling. The site visit focuses on the
containment requirements, including
device selection, layout design and
ventilation systems, and an assessment
of any existing plume dispersion
arrangements. The modelling focuses
on the internal system dilution
and external plume dispersion.
Modelling can also be used to
support planning applications for
refurbishments or new build projects.
What were the benefits?
This comprehensive approach
ensures that the laboratory not
only understands the effectiveness
of their containment systems but
ensures sufficient dilution and
dispersion of any discharged
fume to mitigate potential
external odour or exposure
issues. This will lead to a reduced
risk of ill health for workers,
and those in the immediate
vicinity of the laboratory.
For more information see
HSE’s website.98
Funding source
Commercial service
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Managing risk well

Health and Safety Excellence: leadership training programme

What were the benefits?

IN ANY ORGANISATION, a fully integrated
effective health and safety system
requires strong leadership. Without
leadership and commitment to create
the right culture in the organisation it
will be impossible to attain the right
level of high performance. Health and
safety is likely to be seen as a ‘burden’
and a must-do rather than a real
driver for performance improvement.
HSE specialists have offered training
courses and awaydays on health and
safety leadership for many years.
HSE was approached by Fugro’s Global
Talent Development Manager in July
2017 to explore how HSE’s human
factors specialists and psychologists
could support the organisations’
desire to enhance its senior leadership
focus on health and safety.
Fugro is a world-leading, independent
provider of geo-intelligence and
asset integrity solutions for large
constructions, infrastructure and
natural resources. Working around
the globe, predominantly in energy
and infrastructure markets, Fugro
employs approximately 10,000
employees in 65 countries.
The pilot programme was delivered
in January 2018 to an international
The customer has seen significant
value in the programme, making
the following reflection:
‘We partnered with HSE on their
H&S Leadership course to bring a
stronger focus to our leadership
capability. The content of the
course was tailored to our business
context. The course has been
well received by attendees, and
is prompting some valuable
reflections on how we operate
our leadership functions across
the business. This is helping
us to review the culture of the
organisation, and enable our
leaders to have greater influence
on business performance.’
audience of 20 senior leaders by
two HSE trainers. Both trainers were
Chartered Occupational Psychologists
with over ten years’ experience in
delivering training courses across
varied industries. Courses were
then delivered by a psychologist
from HSE and Fugro’s Global Health
and Safety Manager. The courses
were delivered in 10 countries, to
approximately 230 senior leaders.
Quotes from delegates have also
been very positive, for example:
‘Although I thought I was at the
level of ‘unconsciously skilled’,
because of 15 years past HSE
responsibility and experience,
after today, however, I realised
that with respect to HSE leadership
you never reach this level.
This was a great reset to the
consciously skilled level. Great
to experience this different
approach. Thanks for the gift.’
For more information see HSE’s
leadership programme.99
Funding source
Commercial events
and training

41
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Managing risk well
Development of a high-pressure pipeline release model
MAJOR ACCIDENT HAZARD pipelines
have the potential to impact on
nearby populations if there is a release
from the pipeline. A release of a
flammable substance from a pipeline
can lead to a fire that has the potential
to seriously injure or kill people in the
vicinity. HSE is the statutory authority
in Great Britain responsible for
providing public safety advice to
local planning authorities on the
risks associated with pipelines.
Mathematical models that
simulate pipeline releases are
used as part of the risk assessment
calculation to inform HSE’s advice.
42
HSE’s pipeline risk assessment
modelling suite is called MISHAP:
‘Model for the estimation of Individual
and Societal risk from HAzards of
Pipelines’. A new model has been
developed in MISHAP to calculate the
release rates from accidental releases
of pressure liquefied gases such
as propane and ethylene. This was
undertaken as part of a programme
of continuous improvement of HSE’s
risk assessment methodologies.
HSE’s mathematical modelling
specialists developed the PiRRaM
(Pipeline Release Rate Model),
based on existing science as well as
innovative modelling techniques.
The model has shown good
performance when it was validated
against experimental data covering
a wide range of materials, release
hole sizes and pipeline pressures.
What were the benefits?
The new Pipeline Release Rate
Model quantifies the release
behaviour for accidental releases
of pressure liquefied gases from
major accident hazard pipelines
for a wide range of conditions. The
model is being used to improve
HSE’s risk estimates for pipelines
carrying pressure liquefied gases,
enabling advice to local planning
authorities to be based on more
robust modelling predictions.
For more information see HSE’s
research report Development
of PiRRaM: A pipeline release
rate model for pressure
liquefied gases.100
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Managing risk well
Improving tower crane safety
SEVERAL TRAGIC FATAL incidents
involving the use of tower cranes,
some involving multiple fatalities,
have occurred over the past three
years. HSE specialist mechanical
engineering inspectors and researchers
have undertaken forensic incident
investigation and engineering
research of these incidents. Through
this work it was recognised that the
industry required more guidance and
instruction to attain a higher level
of safety than is currently achieved.
This resulted in the revision of British
Standard Code of Practice for the Safe
use of Tower Cranes (BS 7121 Part 5).
43
Through the knowledge gained
both through incident investigation,
research and industry expertise
a consensus was achieved to
establish good practice to address
what were perceived as gaps in
the safe use of tower cranes.
What were the benefits?
The new British Standard Code of
Practice for the Safe use of Tower
Cranes (BS 7121 Part 5) contains
updated references and, most
importantly, additional information
relating to the use of netting,
erection and dismantling and
lift planning when considering
the use of tower cranes.
Use of the British Standard ‘helps
improve safety and helps crane
owners and operators comply with
their legal duty’. Bsigroup.com
For more information see BSI
website Code of Practice for
Safe Use of Cranes. Tower
Cranes101 and HSE website
Lifting operations – cranes.102
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Managing risk well
Assessing toxic risk from potential warehouse fires
TO PROTECT THE public from the
risks of potential fires in warehouses
that store substances that are toxic,
or produce toxic products during
combustion, it is important to have
robust risk assessments by warehouse
operators. These are used both as
part of demonstrating to HSE that the
risks have been reduced to as low
as reasonably practicable (ALARP)
and to inform the development of fire
mitigation strategies such as planned
ventilation in the event of fire.
Risk assessments are a legal duty
under the Health and Safety at Work
etc Act, and the Control of Major
Accident Hazard (COMAH) Regulations
(according to the quantities of
materials stored). Relevant substances
include toxic agrochemicals,
isocyanates and chlorine-producing
swimming pool chemicals.
Risk estimation can be complex
because of:
›› the wide range of physical
and chemical processes
that occur during a fire;
›› the large number of potential
fire scenarios; and
›› lack of advance knowledge
of variables such as
the ignition site.
44
HSE specialists have developed a
risk assessment method drawing
on the experiences of operators,
consultants and regulators over the
last 25 years. The method starts with
a screening test to identify when the
risks are not significant, and covers
issues such as dealing with complex
inventories, predicting toxicity and
heat flow in smoke, dispersion of
fumes, and potential harm to people.
What were the benefits?
This research has produced
a simple, transparent risk
assessment method that can be
used by dutyholders and their risk
practitioners to better understand
the potential risks to the public
from toxic substances released
during potential warehouse fires.
This will assist dutyholders to
demonstrate that risks are as
low as reasonably practicable
(ALARP) and to identify effective
risk mitigation strategies.
For further information, see journal
publication Assessment of toxic
risks from warehouse fires.103
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Tackling ill health
A new online workplace-friendly risk assessment tool to reduce the risk
of musculoskeletal injury from pushing and pulling operations
EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE lifting and carrying
of loads in industry have resulted in a
proliferation of manual handling assist-
devices requiring pushing and pulling.104
Many personnel are exposed to the
hazards associated with pushing and
pulling, and this is cited in a significant
number of musculoskeletal injury/
ill-health reports. Practical problems
associated with workplace measurement
of exerted force present a barrier to the
push/pull task risk assessment process.
HSE developed a risk assessment tool, for
regulatory inspectors and dutyholders
Using walk-through procedures and
field trialling, advice was obtained
from subject matter experts, a joint
HSE and local authority advisory
panel and duty holder health and
safety managers, concerning the
tool’s design and technical aspects
for robustness, operational utility,
and usability in real work situations.
The tool is both usable and effective, and
is focused on characterising hazards
that are more readily determined in
the workplace than the exerted force.
It is linked to existing HSE guidance.
45
What were the benefits?
The new online version of
the pushing and pulling risk
assessment tool will be launched
in 2020. The version for small
and medium enterprises will
be free. The tool was originally
developed to reduce the risk
of workplace musculoskeletal
injury by increasing duty holder
awareness and ability to identify,
and subsequently manage,
the key risks associated with
pushing and pulling operations
in the workplace. Our research
ensured that the tool:
›› is user-friendly;
›› requires minimal expert
knowledge to apply;
›› reduces/eliminates the need
for measurement of force, by
characterising hazards that
are more readily determined/
observed in the workplace
than exerted force;
›› identifies high-risk operations
and intuitively indicates
good practice; and
›› is linked to relevant
HSE guidance.
For further information see HSE
research reports Further work for
development of an inspection tool
for risk assessment of pushing
and pulling operations; 104 and
Evaluation of the use of the
pushing and pulling operations risk
assessment tool by dutyholders; 105
HSE publication Risk assessment of
pushing and pulling (RAPP)106 and
journal publication Ready steady
push–a study of the role of arm
posture in manual exertions.107
HSE summary report: Work-related
musculoskeletal disorders,
a tri-sector exploration.10
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Tackling ill health
Insights into workplace challenges to reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders
WORK-RELATED musculoskeletal
disorders (MSDs) are widespread and
have a significant impact on individuals,
employers and the wider economy.
The purpose of the research was
to improve HSE’s understanding of
employer and worker knowledge,
attitudes, behaviours and needs
regarding the prevention and
management of MSDs. Research
focused on three priority sectors where
rates are particularly high and job
roles involve a significant amount of
manual handling – transportation
and storage (parcel carriers),
construction and healthcare (nursing).
HSE specialists completed a literature
review before commissioning an
independent research agency
(Revealing Reality) to conduct
ethnography and qualitative interviews
with employers and workers – due to
the nature and scale of the project
and to provide greater objectivity.
››
Key findings from the research
were as follows:
››
The language around ‘MSDs’
was not consistently understood
or applied by either employers
or workers, with implications
for workplace communication
and implementing controls.
Workplace cultures often acted
as a barrier to healthy working –
46
for example macho behaviour
in construction and ‘patient
first’ mentality in nursing.
›› Nine other barriers were
identified, relating to worker
and employer motivation,
situational or ‘in the moment’
factors and how workplaces
What were the benefits? 
This research gave valuable
insights into why musculoskeletal
disorders rates remain high in
three of HSE’s priority sectors.
HSE’s in-house team then
worked closely with MSD and
sector policy teams to turn the
research findings into new sector
interventions as well as informing
future policy and strategy.
For more information see Work-
related musculoskeletal disorders,
a tri-sector exploration.10
were structured and organised.
›› There was a need for greater
innovation beyond traditional
workplace interventions such
as generic manual handling
training and posters.
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Tackling ill health
Improving occupational hygiene control standards in the waste and recycling industry
WORKER EXPOSURE TO bioaerosols in
particular, airborne fungi, bacteria,
and their cellular components, for
example endotoxin, presents an
increased risk of lung disease. Given
the nature of the material it was
suspected that handling general
municipal waste could present a
significant bioaerosol exposure risk.
HSE’s occupational hygienists
visited waste transfer stations,
energy from waste incinerators
and mechanical and biological
treatment plants. The aim of
these visits was to gain a better
understanding of the industry, the
potential health hazards and the
exposure controls currently in use.
47
Nine sites that handle municipal
waste in bulk were recruited through
the Waste Industry Safety and Health
(WISH) forum. They selected sites they
deemed to be higher performing
in terms of health and safety, with
a view to highlighting what control
standard are achievable.
Following the site visits, exposure to
dust and bioaerosol was measured
and the exposure control strategies
evaluated in greater detail at waste
transfer stations and at mechanical
and biological treatment plants.
Good and bad practices were
identified and shared with industry.
The findings have been shared with
the participating sites and company
managers. Data was collated, and
a summary report published.
What were the benefits?
This study helped close an industry
knowledge gap and identified
areas where control of exposure to
organic dust, fungi, bacteria and
endotoxin, could be improved. The
project has identified benchmarks
for inspection activities and
the findings have been used to
promote preventive action. The
research has contributed to the
work of the Waste Industry Safety
and Health forum who recently
set up a bioaerosols group.
For more information see the
HSE research report Dust and
bioaerosol exposure at municipal
waste handling sites.108 The
results have been presented at
several conferences and meetings
including the fifth UK & Ireland
Exposure Science Meeting.109
HSE Annual Science Review 2020 Case studies | Tackling ill health

Estimating the scale of occupational asthma in seafood processing

OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA IS a
respiratory disease that is largely What were the benefits?
preventable by using good practice
measures to control worker exposure This research has identified a high
to asthmagens. Addressing estimated level of occupational
occupational lung disease, including asthma in the onshore seafood-
asthma, is a priority in HSE’s Health processing industry. This provides
and Work Strategy.110 Fish and evidence to inform decisions
shellfish exposure during processing by HSE regulatory and policy
have been a known source of specialists, and by industry,
occupational asthma for many years. on further requirements to
However, at an international level, effectively control allergen
for instance in New Zealand and exposures in this industry.
Norway, changes in fish and shellfish
processing, linked to improving food For further information, see
safety, have given rise to concerns journal publication Occupational
at the potential for increased asthma and its causation in the UK
worker exposure to allergens. seafood processing industry.111

The UK land-based, seafood-

processing industry employs about
20,000 people. To estimate the scale
of occupational asthma incidence,
a team of researchers from HSE
and the University of Manchester
analysed the SWORD (Surveillance
of Work-Related and Occupational
Respiratory Disease) database for The researchers estimated that the incidence in all other industries
1992-2017.70 The database has reports incidence of occupational asthma (2.9 per 100,000 workers per year).
from chest physicians on newly in UK seafood processors is 70 per Processing of prawns and salmon
diagnosed cases that they judge 100,000 workers per year. This is over or trout were notably implicated as
were caused or aggravated by work. twenty times higher than the average linked to occupational asthma.

48
References and
publications
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
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Birmingham, UK, 10-12 May 2017,
Poster 2 [online]. Available at:
https://www.icheme.org/media/11898/
poster-02.pdf
59 Health and Safety Executive
Shoreham Airshow incident: identifying
improvements to future risk management
of airshows. Annual Science Review
2018 p49 [online]. Available at: https://
www.hse.gov.uk/research/content/
science-review-2018.pdf
60 Health and Safety Executive The
Space Industry Act - keeping people
safe. Annual Science Review 2019 p46
[online]. Available at: https://www.hse.
gov.uk/research/content/science-
review-2019.pdf
61 Smpokou, E., Gonzalez-Quiroz, M.,
Martins, C., Alvito, P., Le Blond, J.,
Glaser, J., Aragon, A., Wesseling, C.,
Nitsch, D., Pearce, N., Norman, J.,
Lindh, C., Morton, J. and Caplin, B.
(2019) Environmental exposures in
young adults with declining kidney
function in a population at risk of
Mesoamerican Nephropathy.
Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, 76 920-926, http://dx.doi.
org/10.1136/oemed-2019-105772
62 Morton, J., Tan, E. and Suvarna, K.
(2017) Multi-elemental analysis of
human lung samples using inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine
and Biology, 43 63-71, http://dx.doi.
org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.11.008
63 Morton J, Tan E, Leese E, and
Cocker J. (2014) Determination of 61
elements in urine samples collected
from a non-occupationally exposed
UK adult population, Toxicology Letters,
231, 179–193
64 Leese E, Morton J, Tan E, Gardiner
PHE and Carolan VA (2013) , µLC–ICP-
MS Determinations of Unexposed UK
Urinary Arsenic Speciation Reference
Values, Journal of Analytical
Toxicology; 38, 24-30
65 Leese E, Morton J, Staff JF and
Carolan VA (2017) Exhaled Breath
Condensate: A Novel Matrix for
Biological Monitoring to Assess
Occupational Exposure to Respirable
Crystalline Silica, Annals of Work
Exposures and Health, 61, 902–906
66 Health and Safety Executive
Innovation in Battery Technology –
Safely Enabling the Industrial Strategy.
[online] Available at: https://www.hsl.
gov.uk/health-and-safety-training-
courses/innovation-in-battery-
technology
53
67 OFGEM Gas NIC submission:
National Grid Gas Distribution –
HyDeploy [online]. Available at:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/
publications-and-updates/gas-nic-
submission-national-grid-gas-
distribution-hydeploy
68 HyDeploy [online]. Available at:
https://hydeploy.co.uk/
69 Santonen, T., Alimonti, A., Bocca,
B., Duca, R., Galea, K., Godderis, L.,
Goen, T., Gomes, B., Hanser, O.,
Iavicoli, I., Janasik, B., Jones, K.,
Kiilunen, M., Koch, H. M., Leese, E.,
Leso, V., Louro, H., Ndaw, S., Porras,
S., Robert, A., Ruggieri, F., Scheepers,
P., Silva, M., Viegas, S., Wasowicz, W.,
Castano, A. and Sepai, O. (2019)
Setting up a collaborative European
human biological monitoring study on
occupational exposure to hexavalent
chromium. Environmental Research,
177, 108583. Available at: https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.108583
70 Surveillance of work-related and
occupational respiratory disease
(SWORD) [online]. Available at: http://
research.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/
epidemiology/COEH/research/thor/
schemes/sword/
71 Barber, C., Fishwick, D., Carder, M.
and van Tongeren, M. (2018)
Epidemiology of silicosis: reports from
the SWORD scheme in the UK from 1996
to 2017. Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, 76 (1), 17-21,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/
oemed-2018-105337
72 Barber, C., Fishwick, D., Seed, M.,
Carder, M. and van Tongeren, M.
(2018) Artificial stone-associated
silicosis in the UK. Occupational &
Environmental Medicine, 75 (7), 541,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/
oemed-2018-105028
73 Baldwin, P., Yates, T., Beattie, H.,
Keen, C. and Warren, N. (2019)
Exposure to respirable crystalline silica
in the GB brick manufacturing and
stone working industries. Annals of
Work Exposures and Health, 63 (2),
184-196, https://doi.org/10.1093/
annweh/wxy103
74 Stacey, P., Thorpe, A., Roberts, P.
and Butler, O. (2018) Determination of
respirable-sized crystalline silica in
different ambient environments in the
United Kingdom with a mobile high
flow rate sampler utilising porous
foams to achieve the required particle
size selection. Atmospheric
Environment, 182 51-57, http://dx.doi.
org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.03.032
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
75 Health and Safety Executive
Industrial cleaning project Research
Report (Forthcoming publication
in 2020)
76 Health and Safety Executive Wood
dust in manufacturing Research Report
(Forthcoming publication in 2020)
77 Stacey, P. (2019) A study to assess
the performance of an ‘x-ray powder
diffraction with Rietveld’ approach for
measuring the crystalline and
amorphous components of inhalable
dust collected on aerosol sampling
filters. Powder Diffraction, 34 (3),
251-259, https://doi.org/10.1017/
S0885715619000423
78 Stacey, P., Simpson, A. and
Hambling, S. (2019) The measurement
of wood in construction dust samples:
a furnace based thermal gravimetric
approach. Annals of Work Exposures
and Health, 63(9), 1070–1080, https://
doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxz072
79 Turner, M., Batt, R. and Howard J.
(2019) Development of a model for
spills of liquids on porous surfaces. CBD
S&T Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA,
November 18-21, 2019 [online].
Available at: https://www.
cbdstconference.com/agenda-
download-abstract?AbstractId=158
80 Health and Safety Executive
Work-related asthma statistics in Great
Britain, 2019 [online]. Available at:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
causdis/asthma.pdf
81 Health and Safety Executive
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
[online]. Available at: https://www.hse.
gov.uk/asbestos/regulations.htm
82 Health and Safety Executive
Proficiency Testing Schemes [online].
Available at: https://www.hsl.gov.uk/
proficiency-testing-schemes
83 World Health Organisation Good
Microbiological Practice and
Procedures (GMPP) (Biosafety Video
Series). Available at:
https://www.who.int/ihr/publications/
biosafety-video-series/en/
84 Health and Safety Executive HSE
Training and Events [online]. Available
at: https://www.hsl.gov.uk/training.
aspx
85 Butler Ellis, M C, Lane A G,
O’Sullivan C M, Hamey P, and
MacDonald A. Recent changes to the
UK protocol for determining star ratings
for drift-reducing nozzles and
equipment for boom spraying. Paper
to be presented at: International
Advances in Pesticide Application,
Brighton, UK, 28-30 January 2020
54
86 Health and Safety Executive Fatal
Injuries in Great Britain [online].
Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/
statistics/fatals.htm
87 Health and Safety Executive
Mesothelioma in Great Britain [online].
Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/
statistics/causdis/mesothelioma/
mesothelioma.pdf
88 Health and Safety Executive (2019)
HSE releases annual injury and ill-
health statistics for Great Britain. [press
release] 30 October 2019. Available at:
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2019/10/30/
hse-releases-annual-injury-and-ill-
health-statistics-for-great-britain/?_
ga=2.63387567.1874019698.1572870155-
432395863.1556527999#utm_
source=hse.
gov.uk&utm_medium=refferal&utm_
campaign=annualstats&utm_
term=press-release&utm_
content=news-page
89 House of Commons Library (2019)
Statistics on Health and Safety in the
United Kingdom. Information on
fatalities, accidents and illnesses by
occupation, industry, region and
country. Also includes international
comparisons. [online] Available at:
https://researchbriefings.parliament.
uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/
CBP-7458
90 Fava, A. (2019) HSE publishes annual
workplace fatality figures. Safety and
Health Practitioner. [online] Available at:
https://www.shponline.co.uk/news/
hse-publishes-annual-workplace-fatality-
figures/
91 HSE releases annual injury and
ill-health stats. Health and Safety Matters
4 Nov 2019 [online]. Available at: https://
www.hsmsearch.com/HSE-injury-
stats-2019
92 Health and Safety Executive Offshore
fire, explosion and risk assessment
[online]. Available at: http://www.hse.
gov.uk/offshore/assessment.htm
93 BBC (2019) Celsa steelworks fatal
blast: Company fined £1.8m [online].
Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/
news/uk-wales-49935547
94 Health and Safety Executive (2019)
Steel company fined £1.8m after two
engineers died in an explosion. Press
Release 4 Oct 2019 [online]. Available at:
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2019/10/04/
steel-company-fined-1-8m-after-two-
engineers-died-in-an-explosion/
95 Health and Safety Executive (2019)
Two companies fined following death of
five-year-old Alexys Brown [press
release]. 15 Jan 2019. Available at:
media.enquiries@hse.gov.uk
HSE Annual Science Review 2020

96 Health and Safety Executive 101 British Standards Institute (2019) 106 Health and Safety Executive Risk
Improving Health and Safety BS 7121-5:2019 Code of Practice for Safe assessment of pushing and pulling (RAPP)
Outcomes in Construction Making the Use of Cranes. Tower Cranes. Available tool. HSE, 2016 (INDG478) [online].
Case for Building Information at: https://shop.bsigroup.com/ Available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/
Modelling (BIM) [online]. Available at: pubns/indg478.htm
102 Health and Safety Executive
https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/
Lifting operations – cranes [online]. 107 Okunribido, O., and Haslegrave, C.
lwit/assets/downloads/improving-
Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/ (2008). Ready steady push – a study of
health-and-safety-outcomes-in-
construction/safetytopics/cranes.htm the role of arm posture in manual
construction.pdf
exertions. Ergonomics, 51(2), 192-216
103 Atkinson, G. and Briggs, B.
97 Health and Safety Executive https://doi.org/10.1080/00140130701526374
Assessment of toxic risks from
Discovering safety: Construction risk
warehouse fires. Hazards 29, 108 Sandys, V., Stagg, S. and
knowledge management [online].
Birmingham, UK, 22-24 May 2019 Harding, A-H Dust and bioaerosol
Available at: https://www.
https://www.icheme.org/media/11393/ exposure at municipal waste handling
discoveringsafety.com/works/
h11a_thu_1055_atkinson.pdf sites RR1151 (Forthcoming publication
construction-risk-knowledge-
in 2020)
management-using-bim 104 Okunribido, O. (2013) Further work
for development of an inspection tool 109 Sandys, V. Dust and bioaerosol
98 Health and Safety Executive
for risk assessment of pushing and exposure during the processing of
Research and consultancy [online].
pulling operations. HSE, (RR998). residual household waste. Paper
Available at: https://www.hsl.gov.uk/
Available at: www.hse.gov.uk/ presented at 5th UK & Ireland Exposure
research-and-consultancy
research/rrhtm/rr998.htm Science Meeting, University of
99 Health and Safety Executive HSE’s Birmingham, UK, 29th March 2017
105 Okunribido, O. and Lekka, C.
Leadership Programme (In-company
Evaluation of the pushing and pulling 110 Health and Safety Executive HSE’s
course only) [online]. Available at:
operations risk assessment tool by duty Health and Work Strategy. Available at:
https://www.hsl.gov.uk/health-and-
holders. HSE, 2014 (RR999). Available https://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/
safety-training-courses/
at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/ strategiesandplans/health-and-work-
hse%E2%80%99s-leadership-
rrpdf/rr999.pdf strategy/health-and-work-strategy.pdf
programme-(in-company-course-only)
111 Mason H. et al., Occupational
100 Health and Safety Executive
asthma and its causation in the UK
Development of PiRRaM: a pipeline
seafood processing industry. Annals of
release rate model for pressure
Work Exposures and Health (In press)
liquefied gases (Forthcoming
publication in 2020)

55
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Publications
HSE scientists are committed to
making research findings accessible
online at no cost to the user. We
ensure open access to research
papers in peer-reviewed journals and
journal-like conference proceedings
(provided the publisher gives
this option) describing research
for HSE led by our scientists.
2019 publications by our scientists
are listed below. This covers:
publications in research reports;
peer-reviewed journals; papers in
conference proceedings; conference
abstracts; and articles in trade
and professional magazines.
For a full list of details from previous
years see http://www.hsl.gov.
uk/resources/publications. HSE
also commissions reports from
researchers in other institutes, for a
full list of research reports published
by HSE see http://www.hse.gov.
uk/research/rrhtm/index.htm
Reports by HSE scientists
and expert committees
HSE’s research report series (RR) is
available electronically on the HSE
website. Available at: https://www.
hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/index.htm
Atkinson, G. Measurements of
burning rate and radiative heat
transfer for pools of ethanol and cask-
strength whisky. HSE, 2019 (RR1144)
Chaplin, Z. Update of aircraft
crash rates used by HSE in
assessing hazards from chemical,
process and other major hazard
installations. HSE, 2019 (RR1140)
Cooke, J. Assessment of exposure
to respirable crystalline silica (RCS)
and benchmarking of exposure
controls during manual splitting and
dressing of slate. HSE, 2019 (RR1142).
Fishwick, D., Naylor, S., Codling, A.
And Fox, D. Uptake and quality of health
surveillance for occupational asthma
in the woodworking, baking and motor
vehicle repair sectors. HSE, 2019 (RR1139)
Fox, D., Webster, J. and Jones,
A. Understanding the health and
safety implications of the gig
economy. HSE, 2019 (RR1143)
56
Hall, S., Crook, B., Roberts, P.,
Bailey, C. and Makison Booth, C.
Evaluation of existing PPE worn by
NHS staff for assessment of a patient
with a suspected high consequence
infectious disease. HSE, 2019 (RR1147)
Hall, S., Pengelly, I., Staff, J.,
Plant, N. and Evans, G. Measuring
and controlling emissions from
polymer filament desktop 3D
printers. HSE, 2019 (RR1146)
Mogridge, R. Market surveillance
of eye-protectors for lasers or
intense pulsed light in the cosmetic
industry. HSE, 2019 (RR1148)
Okunribido, O. An ergonomics study
of the minimum space requirement for
removal of Asbestos Insulating Board
(AIB) ceiling tiles. HSE, 2019 (RR1152)
Pinder, A. and Okunribido, O.
Comparative analysis of
manual handling practices in
kerbside collection of recyclable
waste. HSE, 2019 (RR1141)
Pursell, M., Rattigan, W., Moodie,
K., Cirrone, D., Shenstov, V.,
Dadashzadeh, M., Kashkarov,
S., Makarov, D., Molkov, V., Zu,
Z., Kuznetsov, M., Venetsanos,
A., Vagsaether, K., Bouix, D.,
Bernard-Michel, G. and Grune, J.
Pre-normative research for safety
of hydrogen driven vehicles and
transport through tunnels and
similar confined spaces: detailed
research programme on explosion in
underground transportation systems.
European Union. Fuel Cells and
Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, 2019
Pursell, M., Garcia, M., Molkov, V.,
Esbroeck, T. Van and Vagsaether, K.
Pre-normative research for safety
of hydrogen driven vehicles and
transport through tunnels and similar
confined spaces: report on selection
and prioritisation of scenarios.
European Union. Fuel Cells and
Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, 2019
Sandys, V., Stagg, S. and
Harding, A.H. Dust and bioaerosol
exposure at municipal waste
handling sites. HSE, 2019 (RR1151)
White, R. and Yeomans, E. Review
of window restrictors used in health
and social care. HSE, 2019 (RR1150)
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
The top three research reports
downloaded for 2019:
RR446 The development of a fatigue
/ risk index for shiftworkers www.hse.
gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr446.htm
RR1052 The effect of wearer
stubble on the protection given by
Filtering Facepieces Class 3 (FFP3)
and Half Masks. www.hse.gov.
uk/research/rrhtm/rr1052.htm
RR1135 Summary of the evidence
on the effectiveness of Mental
Health First Aid (MHFA) training
in the workplace. www.hse.gov.
uk/research/rrhtm/rr1135.htm
Publications in peer-
reviewed journals
Baldwin, P., Yates, T., Beattie, H.,
Keen, C. and Warren, N. (2019)
Exposure to respirable crystalline
silica in the GB brick manufacturing
and stone working industries.
Annals of Work Exposures and
Health, 63 (2), 184-196, https://doi.
org/10.1093/annweh/wxy103
Barber, C. and Fishwick, D. (2019)
Rapid response to - Respiratory disease
mortality in the United Kingdom
compared with EU15+ in 1985-2015:
observational study. The BMJ
Barber, C. and Fishwick, D. (2019)
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and
asbestos use. The BMJ, 364 l1041,
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1041
Barber, C., Fishwick, D., Carder,
M. and van Tongeren, M. (2019)
Epidemiology of silicosis: reports
from the SWORD scheme in the UK
from 1996 to 2017. Occupational
and Environmental Medicine,
76 (1), 17-21, https://dx.doi.
org/10.1136/oemed-2018-105337
57
Blanc, P. D., Annesi-Maesano, I.,
Balmes, J., Cummings, K., Fishwick,
D., Miedinger, D., Murgia, N.,
Naidoo, R., Reynolds, C., Sigsgaard,
T., Toren, K., Vinnikov, D. and
Redlich, C. (2019) The occupational
burden of non-malignant respiratory
diseases: an American Thoracic
Society and European Respiratory
Society statement. American Journal
of Respiratory and Critical Care
Medicine, 199 (11), 1312-1334, https://
doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201904-0717ST
Bradley, I., Willoughby, D. and
Royle, M. (2019) A review of the
applicability of the jet fire resistance
test of passive fire protection materials
to a range of release scenarios.
Process Safety and Environmental
Protection, 122 185-191, https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.psep.2018.12.004
Brookman, B., Butler, O., Ciaralli, L.,
Horsky, M., Laurent, C., Noblett, T.,
Ornemark, U., Patriarca, M., Sibbesen,
L., Tiikkainen, U., van Putten, K. and
Robouch, P. (2019) Proficiency testing
in analytical chemistry, microbiology
and laboratory medicine: discussions
on current practice and future
directions. Accreditation and Quality
Assurance, 24 (1), 93-101, http://
dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00769-018-1343-7
Connolly, A., Coggins, M., Galea,
K., Jones, K., Kenny, L., McGowan,
P. and Basinas, I. (2019) Evaluating
glyphosate exposure routes and their
contribution to total body burden: a
study among amenity horticulturalists.
Annals of Work Exposures and
Health, 63 (2), 133-147, https://doi.
org/10.1093/annweh/wxy104
Connolly, A., Jones, K., Basinas, I.,
Galea, K., Kenny, L., McGowan, P.
and Coggins, M. (2019) Exploring
the half-life of glyphosate in human
urine samples. International Journal
of Hygiene and Environmental
Health, 222 (2), https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.09.004
De Matteis, S., Jarvis, D., Darnton, A.,
Hutchings, S., Sadhra, S., Fishwick,
D., Rushton, L. and Cullinan, P. (2019)
The occupations at increased risk of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) analysis of lifetime job-
histories in the population-based UK
Biobank Cohort. European Respiratory
Journal, 54 (3), 1900186, https://doi.
org/10.1183/13993003.00186-2019
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Entwistle, J., Amaibi, P., Dean, J.,
Deary, M., Medock, D., Morton, J.,
Rodushkin, I. and Bramwell, L. (2019)
An apple a day? Assessing gardeners’
lead exposure in urban agriculture
sites to improve the derivation of soil
assessment criteria. Environment
International, 122 130-141, https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.054
Fishwick, D., Bradshaw, L., Bishop,
B., Burger, M., Frost, G., Warren, N.
and Curran, A. (2019) A national
health and work strategy: a search
for evidence. Occupational
Medicine, 69 (2), 118-125, https://
doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqz001
Galea, K., Basinas, I., Cherrie, J.,
Fuhrimann, S., Harding, A.-H., Jones,
K., Kromhout, H., Ohlander, J., Povey,
A., Ahmad, Z., van Tongeren, M.
and Vermeulen, R. (2019) Impress:
improving exposure assessment
methodologies for epidemiological
studies on pesticides. Outlooks on
Pest Management, 30 (1), 18-19,
https://doi.org/10.1564/v30_feb_05
Garcia-Sila, A., Gomez Perez, J.,
Palma, R., Krystek, M., Mantovani,
S., Foglini, F., Grande, V., De Leo,
F., Salvi, S., Trasatti, E., Albani, M.,
Silvagni, C., Leone, R., Marelli, F.,
Albani, M., Lazzarini, M., Napier, H.,
Glaves, H., Aldridge, T., Meertens,
C., Boler, F., Loescher, H., Laney,
C., Gennazzio, M., Crawl, D. and
Altintas, I. (2019) Enabling FAIR
research in earth science through
research objects. Future Generation
Computer Systems, 98 550-564, https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2019.03.046
Gimsing, A. L., Agert, J., Baran, N.,
Boivin, A., Ferrari, F., Gibson, R.,
Hammond, L., Hegler, F., Jones,
R. L., Konig, W., Kreuger, J., Van
Der Linden, T., Liss, D., Loiseau, L.,
Massey, A., Miles, B., Monrozies, L.,
Newcombe, A., Poot, A., Reeves, G.
L., Reichenberger, S., Rosenbom,
A. E., Staudenmaier, H., Sur, R.,
Schwen, A., Stemmer, M., Tuting,
W. and Ulrich, U. (2019) Conducting
groundwater monitoring studies in
Europe for pesticide active substances
and their metabolites in the context
of Regulation (EC) 1107/2009.
Journal of Consumer Protection and
Food Safety, 14 1-93, https://doi.
org/10.1007/s00003-019-01211-x
58
Goede, H., McNally, K., Gorce, J.-P.,
Marquart, H., Warren, N., Fransman,
W., Tischer, M. and Schinkel, J.
(2019) Dermal Advanced REACH Tool
(dART) - Development of a dermal
exposure model for low-volatile
liquids. Annals of Work Exposures
and Health, 63 (6), 624-636, https://
doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxy106
Hidajat, M., McElvenny, D., Ritchie,
P., Darnton, A., Mueller, W., van
Tongeren, M., Agius, R., Cherrie,
J. and De Vocht, F. (2019) Lifetime
exposure to rubber dusts, fumes
and N-nitrosamines and cancer
mortality in a cohort of British rubber
workers with 49 years follow-up.
Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, 76 (4), 250-258, https://doi.
org.uk/10.1136/oemed-2018-105181
Hidajat, M., McElvenny, D., Ritchie,
P., Darnton, A., Mueller, W., van
Tongeren, M., Agius, R., Cherrie,
J. and De Vocht, F. (2019) Healthy
worker effects explain differences in
internal and external comparisons
in a rubber industry cohort study.
Occupational & Environmental
Medicine, 76 (10), 781, http://dx.doi.
org/10.1136/oemed-2019-106083
Hidajat, M., McElvenny, D., Mueller,
W., Ritchie, P., Cherrie, J. W., Darnton,
A., Agius, R., Kromhout, H. and De
Vocht, F. (2019) Job-exposure matrix
for historical exposures to rubber dust,
rubber fumes and n-Nitrosamines
in the British rubber industry.
Occupational and Environmental
Medicine, 76 (4), 259-267, https://doi.
org/10.1136/oemed-2018-105182
Hyslop, N., Trzepla, K., Yatkin, S.,
White, W., Ancelet, T., Davy, P.,
Butler, O., Gerboles, M., Kohl, S.,
McWilliams, A., Saucedo, L., van der
Haar, M. and Jonkers, A. (2019) An
inter-laboratory evaluation of new
multi-element reference materials
for atmospheric particulate matter
measurements. Aerosol Science and
Technology, 53 (7), 771-782, https://doi.
org/10.1080/02786826.2019.1606413
Jones, K. (2019) Biological monitoring
for isocyanates. Occupational
Medicine, 69 (7), 515-517, https://
doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqz109
Jones, K. and van Tongeren, M.
(2019) X2018 - the 9th International
Conference on the Science of
Exposure Assessment. Annals
of Work Exposures and Health,
63 (6), 605-607, https://doi.
org/10.1093/annweh/wxz050
HSE Annual Science Review 2020
Loizou, G., Sams, C. and McNally, K.
(2019) Development, testing,
parameterisation and calibration of a
human PBPK model for the plasticiser,
Hexamoll DINCH using in silico,
in-vitro and human bio-monitoring
data. Frontiers in Pharmacology:
Predictive Toxicity, 10 1394, http://
dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.01394
McGarry, H. (2019) Application
of the EU criteria and guidance
to identify endocrine disruptors:
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