The Provision of British Standards Online

Information, Technology and Facilities Division provides various back office support services to HSE. Within this Division the Information Management Team (IMT) provides specialised library and information services to all HSE staff in England, Scotland and Wales. Information sources and services include access to legal information; scientific information; company information; specialist information relating to particular industrial sectors, and technical standards.

HSE's subject interests lie across all industries and include a diverse range of occupational health and safety topics for example: analytical chemistry, hazardous chemicals, electrical engineering, construction, metallurgy, offshore technology, ergonomics, mining and quarrying, occupational hygiene, medicine, occupational safety and law. Fringe topics include: accountancy, management and finance.

BACKGROUND TO THE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

The use of standards supports HSE's business objectives across the full spectrum of its wide-ranging functions. Provision of standards is primarily in digital format, but sometimes paper copies are required for specific purposes (e.g. submission of court evidence bundles and other formal enforcement activity).

British Standards represent an authoritative benchmark, agreed with industry, of the risk reduction that can be achieved. They can also be used and targeted as an effective means of influencing stakeholders to adopt better and safer systems and designs.

Standards are required to support the work of HSE . Online access is a more efficient model of service. It reduces the administrative burden on HSE of processing and delivering paper standards. Staff have access to current versions of standards for instant download at any time and, the ability to set up personal profiles and alerts ensures that staff are kept informed of any changes to the standards they use regularly. It also supports HSE's current hybrid working model, as most staff now spend a significant proportion of their time working away from the office, either at home or at a duty holder's premises.

In order to meet HSE's requirements for providing online access to standards, the successful tenderer's solution must deliver all areas except BS 2000 series and historical series. Access is currently provided for 1050 registered users across 20 sites with provision for access for 60 simultaneous users. Tenderers are invited to bid for a service to a similar number of registered and simultaneous users, across 28 sites.