Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
About HSE
We are constantly looking at what we do and ways of doing it better. As a modern regulator, we are taking a lead role in making our approach to regulation more efficient, both for those regulated and the regulators. We know that sensible, smarter legislation is easier to understand and apply and, therefore, is more effective in protecting people. Last year’s Hampton Review, which called for reducing administrative burdens on business through more efficient regulation and enforcement, endorses our approach.
In August 2006, HSC and HSE urged people to focus on risks that cause real harm and not bureaucratic backcovering. A set of sensible risk management principles were launched, all widely supported by stakeholders.
The principles spell out what we believe sensible risk management should – and should not – be about. It should be about saving lives, not stopping people living. HSE wants others to help in turning the principles into practice. HSE has launched a series of measures including the publication of new straight-talking guidance on risk management and a risk management website (www.hse.gov.uk/risk).
Better regulation: risk-based approach to regulation Over the past 30 years, we have cut the number of health and safety regulations on the statute books by half, supporting our view that simpler and more effective legislation improves health and safety.
In 2005 the government accepted the recommendations of the Hampton Review and Better Regulation Task Force report on how to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens. Many of the recommendations confirm the approach HSE was already taking, eg targeted, risk-based enforcement.
As part of a commitment to better regulation, we published with HSE a simplification plan. The plan includes key initiatives to simplify risk assessments, reduce the numbers of health and safety forms, and simplify the regulations for the construction industry. The proposals were welcomed by the Cabinet Office, TUC and CBI.
Promoting health and safety In the past two years, HSE has increased its investment in publicity, as well as encouraging stakeholders to tackle the most common causes of injury and ill health.
Major campaigns such as Better Backs, Watch Your Step and Height Aware have been boosted by advertisements in national, regional and trade press, as well as on the radio and online.
Wherever possible, publicity campaigns and promotional events are supported with inspection activity. For example, during HSE’s Watch Your Step campaign, inspectors focused on construction, manufacturing and cleaning industries.
Plans for merger of HSC and HSE We must have the right decision-making frameworks in place to provide the leadership, direction and accountability expected of public bodies.
We believe that merging the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive into a single, independent body will give us more robust governance arrangements and provide a much stronger voice for health and safety in Great Britain. Like the Commission, the governing body of the merged organisation will have a balanced structure, with employer, employee and local authority interests represented.
Individual enforcement decisions will continue to be taken by officials. This will allow us to take the best from the existing arrangements, while updating them to reflect best practice and improve our accountability to the public.
A Consultative Document seeking views on our proposals is due to be published in early December 2006.