Review of all Approved Codes of Practice


Professor Löftstedt (see page 22) recommended that the HSE should review all of its 52 approved codes of practice (ACOPs) and the government agreed. As a result, the HSE revised, consolidated or withdrew 15 ACOPs and made minor revisions (or no changes) to a further 15. The following ACOPs were revised, consolidated or withdrawn:


• Dangerous substances and explosive atmospheres (ACOPs L134-138) (consolidated into one document – L138);


• Legionella (ACOP L8) (revised);


• Asbestos (ACOPs L127, L143) (consolidated into one document (L143));


• Gas safety (ACOP L56) (revised), (COP20) (withdrawn);


• Hazardous substances (ACOP L5) (revised);


• Workplaces (ACOP L24) (revised);


• Management of health and safety (ACOP L21) – withdrawn and replaced with a “suite” of HSE online guidance, as follows:


• Health and safety made simple: the basics for your business


• The health and safety toolbox: How to control risks at work; and


• Managing for health and safety (also known as HSG65)


• Agriculture (ACOP L116) (Preventing accidents to children in agriculture) (withdrawn and replaced with revised guidance);


• Pipelines (ACOP L81) (withdrawn and replaced with guidance).


• First aid ACOP (L74) (withdrawn and replaced with guidance).


Minor changes were made to the following ACOPs:


• Diving (ACOPs L103-107);


• Work equipment (ACOPs L22, L112, L114);


• Lifting equipment (ACOP L113);


• Confined spaces (ACOP L101);


• Pressure systems (ACOP L122);


• Hazardous substances — pottery production (ACOP L60);


• Hazardous substances — lead (ACOP L132);


• Quarries (ACOP L118);


• Worker Involvement (ACOP L146).


In addition, while an ACOP accompanied the Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations 2007, the HSE has issued guidance, rather than a new ACOP, to accompany the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The HSE Board agreed in March 2016 “that the case for an ACOP adding value to the existing suite of guidance had not been made”, but in view of trade union support for an ACOP, the situation will be reviewed in a year’s time.


The changes to each ACOP are set out in the relevant Chapters throughout this booklet.