C029:06 5 December 2006

A stronger voice for health and safety: HSC announces consultation on merging HSC and HSE

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) today published a public consultation document seeking views on merging HSC and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into a single health and safety authority.

HSC believes that merger with HSE will modernise our corporate governance and provide a stronger voice for health and safety. As part of this, the consultation discusses how the HSC would become the governing body of the new authority, retaining its current independence and links with stakeholders while strengthening its capacity to challenge and support delivery.

The merger will provide:

• a more accountable structure in line with current best practice;
• better decision making and a clearer public and regulatory presence;
• for the continued independence of the safety regulator;
• a balanced structure at arm’s length from Ministers; and
• membership for representatives from employer and employee backgrounds, with a seat for local
  government and a member designated to maintain links with the devolved authorities.

Commenting on the consultation, Bill Callaghan, HSC Chairman, said: “We believe that our governance structures – the infrastructure that supports our decision- making – have served us well in the past. In particular, the broad partnership nature of the HSC, its independence and its strong links with Local Authorities are assets we wish to maintain. Equally, the shape of the labour market, the nature of workplace risks and stakeholder expectations are very different to those which created the backdrop to the Health and Safety at Work Act thirty years ago.

“We therefore decided earlier this year that the time was right to look critically at how our governance arrangements compare with best practice, what works well at present and whether we could strengthen the links between strategy and delivery necessary to provide the accountability expected of a public body in the 21st century.

“Our conclusion is that merging the Commission and Executive into a single body will give us a more robust governance framework, improve our working practices and create a stronger voice for health and safety in Great Britain. We believe that our proposals take the best from the existing governance arrangements, updating them to instil the drivers necessary for re-invigorating the decision-making framework within which we work and strengthening our existing partnerships, particularly those with Local Authorities.”

The consultation can be downloaded from www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm

Comments on the consultation should be sent to Ami Badmus, Health and Safety Executive, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London. SE1 9HS, or email: governance@hse.gsi.gov.uk to arrive no later than 5 March 2007.

Notes to Editors

1. The modernisation of health and safety law in Great Britain has its origins in the report “Safety and Health at Work”(1972). The report was used as the basis for the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act). It proposed the introduction of ‘a single authoritative body to facilitate and promote health and safety within the workplace with autonomy, its own budget, executive powers and functions.
2. The majority of the proposals set out in Lord Robens report on were adopted in full and formed the basis of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act). However, contrary to Roben’s recommendation, the HSW Act did not provide for a single authority, but two separate Crown Non Department Public Bodies (NDPBs); the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive (HSC/E).
3. The HSC has overall responsibility for occupational health and safety regulations in Great Britain. The Commission consists of a chairman and 9 members. It is sponsored by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP minister for occupational health and safety is Lord Hunt of Kings Heath.
4. The HSE and Local Authorities are the enforcing authorities that work in support of the Commission. HSE looks after health and safety in nuclear installations, mines, factories, farms, hospitals and schools, offshore gas and oil installations, the safety of the gas grid and the movement of dangerous goods and substances, and many other aspects of the protection of workers and the public.

Press enquiries

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HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/