Peter Konitzer
25 Mar 2025 · Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg · Wiltshire & Swindon
The coroner's concerns
1. lack of written risk assessments and method statements for construction work
“The HSE website has a section on Volunteering which provides links to more detailed sections elsewhere on the website. No where is it emphasised that as a matter of good practice before undertaking any construction work risk assessments and method statements should be in writing even when there is no legal requirement to do so. Many charitable trusts have a large number of volunteers working for them but with under 5 actual employees technically escape the legal requirements for such documents”
2. absence of post-conviction safety warnings for similar projects
“Subsequent to the conviction of the Canal Trust for breaches of health and safety legislation the HSE published a bulletin. Will consideration be given to publishing a further bulletin following the finding of the inquest jury that [the deceased] was unlawfully killed? Such a bulletin might serve as a stark warning to others embarking on similar projects”
3. inadequate guidance for charitable organisations on volunteer safety obligations
“Will thought be given to revising the Volunteering section of the website to provide a more comprehensive and standalone guide to the obligations of charitable trusts and voluntary organisations? Might such revision profitably include a section reminding organisations that rely on volunteers that enthusiasm should be tempered by being mindful of the need to obtain proper professional advice and assistance in appropriate circumstances?”
Responses
2025-0159-Response-from-HSE.pdf ↗· Health and Safety Executive
Stated action
“HSE's Volunteering pages were published in October 2021, following extensive consultation with internal and external stakeholders. The guidance is meant to be broad and high level in scope, which is consistent with our guidance in other sectors, rather than focused on detailed advice for each sector in which volunteers employed. This allows for the guidance to cover the many organisations it applies to.”
Stated action
“HSE's Engagement and Policy Division is currently going through a period of transition aimed at improving how we work and deliver outcomes, while continuing to deliver on our priorities as outlined within HSE's strategy HSE Strategy 2022 to 2032 - HSE. We will take your recommendations into consideration when we next review the volunteering pages of the guidance on our webpages.”