Health and Safety Executive

Major Incident
Stage 5: Investigation - Additional guidance

HSE Press Office and the Central Office of Information (COI)

Press Office will be informed of an incident by the operational directorate involved or by HSE's Duty Officer.

In the event of a major incident HSE Press Office will:

  • alert COI that the event has occurred - they can then involve HSE, other government departments' press offices, other regulators' press offices, the site operators, emergency services, and potentially No.10
  • provide HSE inspectors with services and advice on what, when and how information should be given to the media and consider a Press Office presence at the scene.

Inspectors should consider requesting a Press Office presence at the scene of a major incident to assist with handling the media. The location of the incident will affect Press Office's response.

In the first few hours Press Office may ask the local COI office to act on its behalf and in some cases COI may continue to provide assistance for the duration of the event (as they did, e.g. following the Avonmouth gantry collapse and the Port Talbot furnace explosion).

COI has offices around the country.

back to step 5.1

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Updated 02.03.10