Free HSE Publications

In a move that was first mooted more than a year ago, the Health and Safety Executive have begun making some of their publications freely available on-line – publications that previously were only available to buy.

Initially, the HSE appear to be concentrating on ACoPs (Approved Codes of Practice), though some of their other publications are also currently available.

As we go to press, approximately 250 titles are available, though the eventual plan is to make most, if not all, Health and Safety related publications available for anyone to view on-line or download.

This is a welcome move on the part of the HSE, particularly for smaller organisations who might have struggled to find the budget to purchase documents that might only be read occasionally, or which may have been of marginal relevance to their business activities.

For those who may need them, hard copy versions of these publications will continue to be offered at the normal price.

Providing easier access to this information helps all organisations to comply with their legal duties and best practice for the sectors in which they operate.

Of course, ignorance of the law has never been a valid defence against criminal charges, but now nobody will have any excuse at all for not having appropriate publications to hand.

It is worth mentioning that the HSE Website already provides a wealth of up-to-date information to help organisations comply with legal requirements. There's also a host of
free health and safety leaflets available for download. By and large, all this information tends to be succinct and written in easy to understand language.

You can read the HSE press release at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/news/2009/free-guidance.htm
You can view the full catalogue of HSE titles at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/index-catalogue.htm

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