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Health and Safety Executive

January 26, 2023

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a UK government agency responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in Great Britain. It is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom with its headquarters in Bootle, England.[1] In Northern Ireland, these duties lie with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. The HSE was created by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and has since absorbed earlier regulatory bodies such as the Factory Inspectorate and the Railway Inspectorate though the Railway Inspectorate was transferred to the Office of Rail and Road in April 2006.[2] The HSE is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. As part of its work, HSE investigates industrial accidents, small and large, including major incidents such as the explosion and fire at Buncefield in 2005. Though it formerly reported to the Health and Safety Commission, on 1 April 2008, the two bodies merged.[3][4]

Health and Safety Executive
Agency overview
Formed1 January 1975 (1 January 1975)
Preceding agencies
  • Railway Inspectorate
  • Factory Inspectorate
  • Mines Inspectorate
  • Explosives Inspectorate
  • Nuclear Installations Inspectorate
TypeCrown status non-departmental public body
HeadquartersBootle, Merseyside, England
Agency executives
Parent departmentDepartment for Work and Pensions
Key document
Websitewww.hse.gov.uk

Functions

The Executive's duties are to:[5]

  • Assist and encourage persons concerned with matters relevant to the operation of the objectives of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
  • Make arrangements for and encourage research and publication, training, and information in connection with its work.
  • Make arrangements for securing government departments, employers, employees, their respective representative organisations, and other persons are provided with an information and advisory service and are kept informed of, and adequately advised on such matters.
  • Propose health and safety regulations.

The Executive is further obliged to keep the Secretary of State informed of its plans and ensure alignment with the policies of the Secretary of State, giving effect to any directions given to it.[6] The Secretary of State can give directions to the Executive.[7]

The Railway Inspectorate was transferred to HSE in 1990. On 1 April 2006, the Executive ceased to have responsibility for railway safety, when the Railway Inspectorate was transferred to the Office of Rail Regulation (now the Office of Rail and Road).[8]

The Executive is responsible for the Employment Medical Advisory Service, which operates as part of its Field Operations Directorate.

Structure and responsibilities

Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of health and safety legislation in shops, offices, and other parts of the service sector.

Agencies belonging to the HSE include

Health and Safety Executive, Science Division

Main article: Health and Safety Laboratory

Based in Buxton, Derbyshire, the Health and Safety Executive Science Division (HSL- Health & Safety Laboratory) employs over 350 people including scientists, engineers, psychologists, social scientists, health professionals, and technical specialists.[9]

It was established in 1921 under the Safety in Mines Research Board to carry out large-scale tests related to mining hazards. Following the formation of the HSE, in 1975 the facilities became a Safety Engineering Laboratory and an Explosion and Flame Research Laboratory, operating as part of the Research Laboratories Service Division of the HSE. In 1995 the HSL was formed, including the Buxton site and laboratories in Sheffield. In 2004 the Sheffield activities moved to Buxton, and the University of Sheffield took over the Sheffield laboratory site.[10]

It now operates as an agency carrying out scientific research and investigations (e.g. on the Buncefield fire) for the HSE, other government agencies and the private sector.[9]

HM Inspectorate of Mines

HM Inspectorate of Mines is responsible for the correct implementation and inspection of safe working procedures within all UK mine workings. It is based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.[11]

Offshore Safety Division

The Offshore Safety Division (OSD) was established as a division within HSE in April 1991. This was in response to recommendations of the Cullen Inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster on 6 July 1988. At the time of the disaster, the Department of Energy (DEn) was responsible for both production and offshore safety; this was perceived as entailing a conflict of interests. Dr Tony Barrell, Director of HSE's Technology and Air Pollution Division was appointed Chief Executive of OSD, having previously been seconded to the DEn to lead the transfer of responsibilities. At the same time, Ministerial oversight was transferred from the DEn to the Department of Employment. The Offshore Safety Act 1992 made the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 and its subsidiary Regulations relevant statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at work etc., Act 1974. The OSD's initial responsibilities included the establishment of the Safety Case Regulations; a thorough review of existing safety legislation and the move towards a goal setting regulatory regime. OSD became part of the HSE's new Hazardous Installations Directorate in 1999; it became part of the new Energy Division in 2013.

OSHCR (Occupational Safety & Health Consultants Register)

The HSE currently administrates the Occupational Safety & Health Consultants Register (OSHCR), a central register of registered safety consultants within the United Kingdom. The intention of the HSE is to pass responsibility of operating the register to the relevant trade & professional bodies once the register is up and running.[12]

Personnel

Directors general of the Health and Safety Executive

List of directors general:[13]

  • January 1975 - December 1983: John Howard Locke CB (b. 26 December 1923, d. 26 September 1998)
  • January 1984 - 30 June 1995: John David Rimington CB (b. 27 June 1935)
  • 3 July 1995 – 30 Sept 2000: Jennifer (Jenny) Helen Bacon CB (b. 16 April 1945)
  • 1 October 2000 – November 2005: Timothy Edward Hanson Walker CB (b. 27 July 1945)
  • November 2005 - 31 March 2008: Geoffrey John Freeman Podger CB (b. 3 August 1952)

The HSE and the Health and Safety Commission merged on 1 April 2008.

Deputy directors general of the Health and Safety Executive

  • (Lois) Audrey Pittom CB (b. 1918, d. 1990) 1975-78
  • Bryan Hugh Harvey (b. 1914, d. 2004) 1975-76
  • James Carver (b. 1916, d. 2007) 1976-77
  • Eric Williams (b. 1915, d. 1980) 1975-76
  • (Herbert) John Dunster CB (b. 1922, d. 2006) 1976-82
  • Dr Kenneth Playfair Duncan (b. 1924, d. 1999) 1982-84
  • David Charles Thomas Eves CB (b. 1942) 1989-2002
  • Jenny Helen Bacon CB (b. 1945) 1992-95
  • Richard Hillier CB 1996-2001
  • Kate Timms 2001-04
  • (James) Justin McCracken (b. 1955) 2002-08
  • Jonathan Rees 2004-08

The HSE and the Health and Safety Commission merged on 1 April 2008.

Chair and chief executive of the Health and Safety Executive

Chairs:

Chief Executives:

  • Geoffrey John Freeman Podger CB (b. 3 August 1952) 1 April 2008 – 31 August 2013
  • (Denis) Kevin Myers CBE (b. 30 September 1954) Acting Chief Executive 1 September 2013 – 9 November 2014
  • Richard Judge (b. 2 November 1962) 10 November 2014 – 17 August 2018[15]
  • David Snowball Acting Chief Executive 15 June 2018 – 1 September 2019[15][16]
  • Sarah Albon 1 September 2019 - date[16]

Heads of OSD

  • Dr Anthony (Tony) Charles Barrell (b.1933) CB, FEng, BSc, D Eng, FIChemE, Eur Ing (Chief Executive), April 1991 - June 1994
  • Roderick Stuart Allison (b.1936), CB, (Chief Executive) July 1994 - 1996
  • Dr Allan Douglas Sefton (b. 1945), 1996 - June 2000
  • T.A.F. Powell, June 2000 - December 2005
  • Ian Whewell, January 2006 - October 2009
  • Steve Walker, October 2009 - March 2013

Criticism

Some of the criticism of HSE has been that its procedures are inadequate to protect safety. For example, the public enquiry by Lord Gill into the Stockline Plastics factory explosion criticised the HSE for "inadequate appreciation of the risks associated with buried LPG pipework…and a failure properly to carry out check visits".[17] However, most criticism of the HSE is that their regulations are over-broad, suffocating, and part of a nanny state. The Daily Telegraph has claimed that the HSE is part of a "compensation culture," that it is undemocratic and unaccountable,[18] and that its rules are costing jobs.[19]

However, the HSE denies this,[20] saying that much of the criticism is misplaced because it relates to matters outside the HSE's remit. The HSE also responded to criticism by publishing a "Myth of the Month" section on its website between 2007 and 2010, which it described as "exposing the various myths about 'health and safety'".[21][22] This has become a political issue in the UK. The Lord Young report, published in October 2010, recommended various reforms aiming "to free businesses from unnecessary bureaucratic burdens and the fear of having to pay out unjustified damages claims and legal fees."[23]

Areas of regulation

The HSE focuses regulation of health and safety in the following sectors of industry:

References

  1. ^ "HSE offices". Health & Safety Executive. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  2. ^ Health and Safety Executive. . hse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  3. ^ Department for Work and Pensions (1 April 2008). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  4. ^ Legislative Reform (Health and Safety Executive) Order 2008, SI 2008/960
  5. ^ Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s.11(2)
  6. ^ Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s.11(3)
  7. ^ Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s.12
  8. ^ Railways Act 2005, ss.2, 60/ Sch.3 para.3(1)(b)(2); Railways Act 2005 (Commencement No.5) Order 2006, SI 2006/266, art.2(2), Sch.
  9. ^ a b "HSL Annual Report and Accounts 2010/2011" (PDF). nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  10. ^ www.hsl.gov.uk 13 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine A Century of Science
  11. ^ "Health and safety in mining". www.hse.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  12. ^ . Hse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  13. ^ . www.ukwhoswho.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Sarah Newton appointed as new Chair of HSE". gov.uk.
  15. ^ a b Knutt, Elaine (20 August 2018). . healthandsafetyatwork.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  16. ^ a b Green, Jason (27 June 2019). . HSE Media Centre. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  17. ^ "HSE response to Stockline 'too little, too late'". Daily Herald. 30 August 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  18. ^ "David Cameron declares war on the "nonsense" of the "over-the-top health and safety culture" The Tory Diary". Conservativehome.blogs.com. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  19. ^ Political, Deputy (27 August 2010). . The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010.
  20. ^ Dudman, Jane (30 June 2010). "Dispelling the myths around health and safety". The Guardian. London.
  21. ^ "Busting the health and safety myths". Hse.gov.uk. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  22. ^ . HSE. 3 July 2007. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  23. ^ (PDF). HM Government. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2012.

External links

  • HSE website
  • HSL website

January 26, 2023
health, safety, executive, government, agency, responsible, encouragement, regulation, enforcement, workplace, health, safety, welfare, research, into, occupational, risks, great, britain, departmental, public, body, united, kingdom, with, headquarters, bootle. The Health and Safety Executive HSE is a UK government agency responsible for the encouragement regulation and enforcement of workplace health safety and welfare and for research into occupational risks in Great Britain It is a non departmental public body of the United Kingdom with its headquarters in Bootle England 1 In Northern Ireland these duties lie with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland The HSE was created by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has since absorbed earlier regulatory bodies such as the Factory Inspectorate and the Railway Inspectorate though the Railway Inspectorate was transferred to the Office of Rail and Road in April 2006 2 The HSE is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions As part of its work HSE investigates industrial accidents small and large including major incidents such as the explosion and fire at Buncefield in 2005 Though it formerly reported to the Health and Safety Commission on 1 April 2008 the two bodies merged 3 4 Health and Safety ExecutiveAgency overviewFormed1 January 1975 1 January 1975 Preceding agenciesRailway InspectorateFactory InspectorateMines InspectorateExplosives InspectorateNuclear Installations InspectorateTypeCrown status non departmental public bodyHeadquartersBootle Merseyside EnglandAgency executivesSarah Newton ChairSarah Albon Chief ExecutiveParent departmentDepartment for Work and PensionsKey documentHealth and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 ss 10 11Websitewww wbr hse wbr gov wbr uk Contents 1 Functions 2 Structure and responsibilities 2 1 Health and Safety Executive Science Division 2 2 HM Inspectorate of Mines 2 3 Offshore Safety Division 2 4 OSHCR Occupational Safety amp Health Consultants Register 3 Personnel 3 1 Directors general of the Health and Safety Executive 3 2 Deputy directors general of the Health and Safety Executive 3 3 Chair and chief executive of the Health and Safety Executive 3 4 Heads of OSD 4 Criticism 5 Areas of regulation 6 References 7 External linksFunctions EditThe Executive s duties are to 5 Assist and encourage persons concerned with matters relevant to the operation of the objectives of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Make arrangements for and encourage research and publication training and information in connection with its work Make arrangements for securing government departments employers employees their respective representative organisations and other persons are provided with an information and advisory service and are kept informed of and adequately advised on such matters Propose health and safety regulations The Executive is further obliged to keep the Secretary of State informed of its plans and ensure alignment with the policies of the Secretary of State giving effect to any directions given to it 6 The Secretary of State can give directions to the Executive 7 The Railway Inspectorate was transferred to HSE in 1990 On 1 April 2006 the Executive ceased to have responsibility for railway safety when the Railway Inspectorate was transferred to the Office of Rail Regulation now the Office of Rail and Road 8 The Executive is responsible for the Employment Medical Advisory Service which operates as part of its Field Operations Directorate Structure and responsibilities EditLocal authorities are responsible for the enforcement of health and safety legislation in shops offices and other parts of the service sector Agencies belonging to the HSE include Health and Safety Executive Science Division Edit Main article Health and Safety Laboratory Based in Buxton Derbyshire the Health and Safety Executive Science Division HSL Health amp Safety Laboratory employs over 350 people including scientists engineers psychologists social scientists health professionals and technical specialists 9 It was established in 1921 under the Safety in Mines Research Board to carry out large scale tests related to mining hazards Following the formation of the HSE in 1975 the facilities became a Safety Engineering Laboratory and an Explosion and Flame Research Laboratory operating as part of the Research Laboratories Service Division of the HSE In 1995 the HSL was formed including the Buxton site and laboratories in Sheffield In 2004 the Sheffield activities moved to Buxton and the University of Sheffield took over the Sheffield laboratory site 10 It now operates as an agency carrying out scientific research and investigations e g on the Buncefield fire for the HSE other government agencies and the private sector 9 HM Inspectorate of Mines Edit HM Inspectorate of Mines is responsible for the correct implementation and inspection of safe working procedures within all UK mine workings It is based in Sheffield South Yorkshire 11 Offshore Safety Division Edit The Offshore Safety Division OSD was established as a division within HSE in April 1991 This was in response to recommendations of the Cullen Inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster on 6 July 1988 At the time of the disaster the Department of Energy DEn was responsible for both production and offshore safety this was perceived as entailing a conflict of interests Dr Tony Barrell Director of HSE s Technology and Air Pollution Division was appointed Chief Executive of OSD having previously been seconded to the DEn to lead the transfer of responsibilities At the same time Ministerial oversight was transferred from the DEn to the Department of Employment The Offshore Safety Act 1992 made the Mineral Workings Offshore Installations Act 1971 and its subsidiary Regulations relevant statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974 The OSD s initial responsibilities included the establishment of the Safety Case Regulations a thorough review of existing safety legislation and the move towards a goal setting regulatory regime OSD became part of the HSE s new Hazardous Installations Directorate in 1999 it became part of the new Energy Division in 2013 OSHCR Occupational Safety amp Health Consultants Register Edit The HSE currently administrates the Occupational Safety amp Health Consultants Register OSHCR a central register of registered safety consultants within the United Kingdom The intention of the HSE is to pass responsibility of operating the register to the relevant trade amp professional bodies once the register is up and running 12 Personnel EditDirectors general of the Health and Safety Executive Edit List of directors general 13 January 1975 December 1983 John Howard Locke CB b 26 December 1923 d 26 September 1998 January 1984 30 June 1995 John David Rimington CB b 27 June 1935 3 July 1995 30 Sept 2000 Jennifer Jenny Helen Bacon CB b 16 April 1945 1 October 2000 November 2005 Timothy Edward Hanson Walker CB b 27 July 1945 November 2005 31 March 2008 Geoffrey John Freeman Podger CB b 3 August 1952 The HSE and the Health and Safety Commission merged on 1 April 2008 Deputy directors general of the Health and Safety Executive Edit Lois Audrey Pittom CB b 1918 d 1990 1975 78 Bryan Hugh Harvey b 1914 d 2004 1975 76 James Carver b 1916 d 2007 1976 77 Eric Williams b 1915 d 1980 1975 76 Herbert John Dunster CB b 1922 d 2006 1976 82 Dr Kenneth Playfair Duncan b 1924 d 1999 1982 84 David Charles Thomas Eves CB b 1942 1989 2002 Jenny Helen Bacon CB b 1945 1992 95 Richard Hillier CB 1996 2001 Kate Timms 2001 04 James Justin McCracken b 1955 2002 08 Jonathan Rees 2004 08The HSE and the Health and Safety Commission merged on 1 April 2008 Chair and chief executive of the Health and Safety Executive Edit Chairs Dame Judith Elizabeth Hackitt CBE b 1 December 1954 1 April 2008 31 March 2016 George Brechin interim chair April 2016 Martin Temple CBE 1 May 2016 31 July 2020 Sarah Newton from 1 August 2020 Date 14 Chief Executives Geoffrey John Freeman Podger CB b 3 August 1952 1 April 2008 31 August 2013 Denis Kevin Myers CBE b 30 September 1954 Acting Chief Executive 1 September 2013 9 November 2014 Richard Judge b 2 November 1962 10 November 2014 17 August 2018 15 David Snowball Acting Chief Executive 15 June 2018 1 September 2019 15 16 Sarah Albon 1 September 2019 date 16 Heads of OSD Edit Dr Anthony Tony Charles Barrell b 1933 CB FEng BSc D Eng FIChemE Eur Ing Chief Executive April 1991 June 1994 Roderick Stuart Allison b 1936 CB Chief Executive July 1994 1996 Dr Allan Douglas Sefton b 1945 1996 June 2000 T A F Powell June 2000 December 2005 Ian Whewell January 2006 October 2009 Steve Walker October 2009 March 2013Criticism EditSome of the criticism of HSE has been that its procedures are inadequate to protect safety For example the public enquiry by Lord Gill into the Stockline Plastics factory explosion criticised the HSE for inadequate appreciation of the risks associated with buried LPG pipework and a failure properly to carry out check visits 17 However most criticism of the HSE is that their regulations are over broad suffocating and part of a nanny state The Daily Telegraph has claimed that the HSE is part of a compensation culture that it is undemocratic and unaccountable 18 and that its rules are costing jobs 19 However the HSE denies this 20 saying that much of the criticism is misplaced because it relates to matters outside the HSE s remit The HSE also responded to criticism by publishing a Myth of the Month section on its website between 2007 and 2010 which it described as exposing the various myths about health and safety 21 22 This has become a political issue in the UK The Lord Young report published in October 2010 recommended various reforms aiming to free businesses from unnecessary bureaucratic burdens and the fear of having to pay out unjustified damages claims and legal fees 23 Areas of regulation EditThe HSE focuses regulation of health and safety in the following sectors of industry Agriculture Air transport Armed forces Catering and hospitality Construction industries Crown establishments Chemical manufacture and storage industries Professional diving Dockwork Education sector e g schools Engineering sector Entertainment and leisure industry Fire service Food and drink manufacturing Footwear and leather industries Haulage Health services e g hospitals Gas supply and installation Gas Safe Register Laundries and dry cleaning Mining Motor vehicle repair Office work Offshore oil and gas installations Paper and board manufacturing industry Pesticides Police forces Printing industries Public services The quarrying industry Recycling and waste management industries Textiles industriesReferences Edit HSE offices Health amp Safety Executive Retrieved 7 April 2012 Health and Safety Executive The history of HSE hse gov uk Archived from the original on 30 January 2019 Retrieved 11 August 2019 Department for Work and Pensions 1 April 2008 Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive merge to form a single regulatory body PDF Archived from the original PDF on 13 July 2009 Retrieved 6 April 2008 Legislative Reform Health and Safety Executive Order 2008 SI 2008 960 Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 s 11 2 Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 s 11 3 Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 s 12 Railways Act 2005 ss 2 60 Sch 3 para 3 1 b 2 Railways Act 2005 Commencement No 5 Order 2006 SI 2006 266 art 2 2 Sch a b HSL Annual Report and Accounts 2010 2011 PDF nationalarchives gov uk Archived from the original PDF on 10 May 2012 Retrieved 19 March 2018 www hsl gov uk Archived 13 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine A Century of Science Health and safety in mining www hse gov uk Retrieved 19 March 2018 About OSHCR on the HSE website Hse gov uk Archived from the original on 14 August 2014 Retrieved 13 August 2014 Who s Who www ukwhoswho com Archived from the original on 17 November 2017 Retrieved 4 March 2016 Sarah Newton appointed as new Chair of HSE gov uk a b Knutt Elaine 20 August 2018 HSE s Richard Judge steps down as annual report shows drop in prosecutions healthandsafetyatwork com Archived from the original on 11 August 2019 Retrieved 11 August 2019 a b Green Jason 27 June 2019 New Chief Executive for HSE HSE Media Centre Archived from the original on 29 July 2019 Retrieved 29 July 2019 HSE response to Stockline too little too late Daily Herald 30 August 2009 Retrieved 19 December 2010 David Cameron declares war on the nonsense of the over the top health and safety culture The Tory Diary Conservativehome blogs com 1 December 2009 Retrieved 13 August 2014 Political Deputy 27 August 2010 Health and safety laws are costing jobs The Daily Telegraph London Archived from the original on 6 September 2010 Dudman Jane 30 June 2010 Dispelling the myths around health and safety The Guardian London Busting the health and safety myths Hse gov uk 30 June 2014 Retrieved 13 August 2014 HSE and local authorities hit back at health and Safety myths HSE 3 July 2007 Archived from the original on 5 June 2011 Retrieved 19 December 2010 Common Sense Common Safety A report by Lord Young of Graffham to the Prime Minister PDF HM Government p 9 Archived from the original PDF on 20 September 2012 External links EditHSE website HSL website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Health and Safety Executive amp oldid 1127000187, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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