Health and Safety Executive
361308
218141306
2008-06-09T10:02:15Z
Ninetyone
1108813
Quick-adding category "Department for Work and Pensions" (using [[WP:HOTCAT|HotCat]])
{{Infobox UK public body|
name=Health and Safety Executive|
logo=[[Image:Health and Safety Executive logo.jpg]]|
type=NDPB|
crown_status=yes|
legislation=[[Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974]], ss.10-11|
established=1974|
sponsor=[[Department for Work and Pensions]]|
head=Judith Hackitt|
|}}
The '''Health and Safety Executive''' (HSE), is a [[United Kingdom]] [[non-departmental public body]]. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of [[occupational safety and health|workplace health, safety and welfare]], and for research into occupational [[risk]]s in [[England and Wales]] and [[Scotland]]. Responsibility in [[Northern Ireland]] lies 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 Regulation]] in April 2006. 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 incedents such as the [[explosion]] and [[fire]] at [[2005 Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal fire|Buncefield]] in 2005. Though it formerly reported to the [[Health and Safety Commission]], on 1 April 2008, the two bodies merged.<ref>{{ cite web | date=1 April 2008 | title=Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive merge to form a single regulatory body | author=Department of Work and Pensions | url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2008/apr/emp070-010408.asp | accessdate=2008-04-06 }}</ref><ref>Legislative Reform (Health and Safety Executive) Order 2008, [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080960_en_1 SI 2008/960]</ref>
==Functions==
The '''Executive's'''' duties are to:<ref>Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s.11(2)</ref>
*Assist and encourage persons concerned with matters relevant to the operation of the objectives of the HSWA;
*Make arrangements for and encourage research and publication, [[training]] and information in connection with its work;
*Make arrangements for securing that [[government department]]s, 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 in the United Kingdom|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.<ref>Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s.11(3)</ref> The '''Secretary of State''' can give directions to the '''Executive'''.<ref>Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, s.12</ref>
On 1 April [[2006]], the '''Executive''' ceased to have responsibility for [[railway safety]].<ref>[[Railways Act 2005]], ss.2, 60/ Sch.3 para.3(1)(b)(2); Railways Act 2005 (Commencement No.5) Order 2006, [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20060266.htm SI 2006/266, art.2(2), Sch.]</ref>
==Structure and responsibilities==
[[Local government in the United Kingdom|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
===Explosives Inspectorate ===
HSE's Explosives Inspectorate enforces the legislation for the classification and transport of explosives. It licences manufacturing and larger storage sites.
==='''The Health and Safety Laboratory''' (HSL)===
Based in [[Buxton]], Derbyshire, it employs over 350 people including scientists, engineers, psychologists, social scientists, health professionals and technical specialists. The services they provide include:
* Research and development
* Specialist advice and consultancy
* Forensic investigation into the causes of accidents
* Environmental and biological monitoring
* Assessment of levels of risk and investigation of their control
* Establishing realistic requirements for standards, and processes for meeting those standards
* Validation and certification
==Recent initiatives==
In October 2006, the HSE launched its ''Better Backs'' campaign, using a fictional rockband (Bäackpain) in a series of humorous{{Fact|date=February 2007}} adverts, to help tackle problems caused by back pain in the UK.
The HSE focuses regulation of health and safety in the following sectors of industry:
*[[Agriculture]]
*Air transport
*[[Armed forces]]
*Catering & hospitality
*[[Construction]] industries
*[[The Crown|Crown]] establishments
*Chemical manufacture and storage industries
*[[Professional diving]]
*[[Dockwork]]
*[[Education]] sector e.g schools
*[[Engineering]] sector
*[[Entertainment & leisure]] industry
*[[Fire Service]]
*Food & drink manufacture
*Footwear and leather industries
*[[Haulage]]
*[[National Health Service|Health Services]] e.g. hospitals
*Gas supply and installation; [[CORGI]]
*Laundries and dry-cleaning
*[[Mining]]
*Motor Vehicle Repair
*Nuclear installations; Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (aka NII)
*Office work
*Offshore gas and oil installations
*Paper and board manufacturing industry
*[[Police|Police Force]]
*[[Printing]] industries
*[[Public services]]
*The [[Quarry]] industry
*[[Recycling]] and [[waste management]] industries
*[[Textiles]] industries
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.hse.gov.uk/ HSE website]
*[http://www.hsenews.com/ HSE news service website]
*[http://www.hsl.gov.uk/ HSL website]
[[Category:Health in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Occupational safety and health]]
[[Category:Safety organizations]]
[[Category:Law enforcement agencies of England and Wales]]
[[Category:Law enforcement agencies of Scotland]]
[[Category:Non-Departmental Public Bodies of the United Kingdom government]]
[[Category:Department for Work and Pensions]]
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{{Law enforcement agencies of the United Kingdom}}
[[de:Health and Safety Executive]]