The Science & Innovation Programme is intended to ensure that all Major Hazards research and development activities help to underpin/ deliver HSE's strategic and operational aims and objectives.
The S&I programme will not specifically deliver HID nor HSE outcomes on its own, but will support, through specific research projects and support work, the delivery of outcomes across the range of operational and policy programmes in HSE Major Hazards Block 2. Block 2 The objective is to develop an n S&I strategy in support of the block and to deliver a rolling programme of S&I work which meets that strategy, within budget.
HSC/E's Strategic Research Outlook is published annually and offers a guide to those research priorities and activities linked to HSE's business aims and objectives, as described for HSE's Block based structures in HSC/Es Strategic Plan 2004- 2010.
D/HID is Block 2's S&I Programme Director and responsible for resourcing the management of the block 2 S&I programme on behalf of HSE's Major Hazards Client D/Ds. The programme aims to underpin block 2's operational and policy work with sound science and ensure appropriate technical support is available.
This programme relates principally to:
HSE's S&I Programme Blocks became operational on 1 April 2002. For Block 2 Block 2, CD4D is responsible, via the S&I coordinator (Head of CD4), to deliver the block 2 S&I programme on behalf of HSE Major Hazards Client D/Ds, which of course includes HID. The programme aims to underpin Block 2's operational and policy work with sound science and ensure appropriate technical support is available.
6% of HID's total resource is directed to the management of the programme. In addition HID staff will use resources to act as technical clients for their specific projects.
Some support work is recoverable chargeable activity - eg SPADs (HMRI): Offshore Safety Casework and Onshore COMAH assessment: predictions about the level of cost recovery are impossible at this stage and level of planning.
The use of robust scientific research and support is often a critical component of the resources required to deliver operational programmes.
The current arrangements for Programme delivery of Science and Innovation (Research & Development and support) have been in place for 18 months. Although sSecuring research has been around ever y since HSE was formed - Section 11 HASWA - and there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate the significant contribution that this activity has made in developing HSE's and more widely Industries knowledge in the broadest spectrum of health and safety.
This programme addresses all of HID's major hazard risks.
At the HID level it would be possible to consider and assess its own policy on the scale of demands for S&I support to its main/ key programmes. At the higher level it would be a matter for HSC/E, in discussion with HSE's Chief Scientist (Budget Holder) and case would have to be made to the Office of Science and Technology for any significant changes to scale of HSE's S&I programmes.
Unless advised to the contrary, it is assumed that HID's key programmes and workblock will continue to place heavy reliance on S&I support, . i n continuing to contribute to the higher level statutory duties on HSC and HSE (Section 11 2(b) HASWA).
In April 2002 HSE implemented new arrangements to manage its Science and Innovation investments through 4 Block Programmes, in which Block 2 represents all Major Hazards work - in the 4 'permissioning regimes'. These arrangements formed part of HSE's response to 1) government policies from two key sources and 2) A cross-sectional analysis of four HSE Research Portfolio Evaluations - carried out by Technopolis in 2000. The aim was to ensure the future targeting and prioritisation of HSE's S&I investment targeted to its policy and operational needs.
The term scientific advice includes: gathering of scientific and technical information, e.g. for monitoring and evaluation purposes; research to better understand particular hazards and the development of prevention and control mechanisms; research on risk assessment, management and communication.
Report by Technopolis Ltd 'A cross-sectional analysis of four HSE Research Portfolio Evaluations (November 2000). Took into account the implications arising from a and b above, and provided guidance to a HSE Working Group with respect to those aspects of research management where further development ought to yield benefits in terms of the overall effectiveness of HSE operations and the value for money derived from its R&D expenditure. It was found that at the level of the research portfolios, each of the 10 evaluations confirmed the relevance of the topic to HSE's policy responsibilities and confirmed that research was an appropriate response to the challenge, which contributed to more effective control of the hazard in question. But concluded amongst other things pressing requirements for HSE:
Options
Limited.
The main business risks are:
Control measures include:
Approximately 38 staff years are directed to HSE's Major Hazards Science & Innovation Programme at an estimated cost of 1,831,690 (1,627,890 staff costs and 203,800 GAE).
HID resources are used for Staff costs to manage the programme, and for HID staff who are technical clients for the work (not easily quantifiable), but S&I contractor costs are covered by Block 2's allocation of the overall budget agreed by the S&I Strategy Committee.
Usually Industrial and Trade Associations for specific collaborative research work.
Chief Scientists Unit is developing cross Block Performance Indicators based on the Balance Scorecard approach, which Block 2 will need to provide, as follows:
The Director of HID is responsible, as Block 2's Programme Director for delivering this contribution to HSE's Major Hazard Strategic Programme.
The S&I management team will develop the overall programme, including HID's demands, through discussion with client divisions and agreement about their demands for S&I sub programmes and projects which support their strategic and operational plans.