Specialised Industries

SI comprises four distinct business units, with different responsibilites:

Biological Agents Unit

Regulates work with biological agents across several sectors, including biotechnology and biomedical research, industrial vaccine and pharmaceutical production, healthcare, agriculture & food. The Unit also has national inspection and enforcement responsibilities for containment, research and commercial laboratories, infectious disease units and all work connected with genetically modified organisms.

Explosives Unit

Regulates health and safety in the manufacture, large-scale storage and transportation of explosives throughout GB and Northern Ireland (in support of the Northern Ireland Office), as well as large-scale ammonium nitrate (AN) storage in GB.

Gas and Pipelines Unit

Regulates the natural gas supply industry and industries transporting hazardous substances by pipeline. This includes upstream natural gas transmission and distribution networks; gas import and storage facilities; onshore major hazard pipelines; offshore pipelines; and other associated high hazard sites.

Mines Unit

Regulates underground mines, the mines rescue service and cableways in England, Scotland and Wales. This includes coal and non-coal mines, tourist mines, and mines used for storage and waste disposal. It also inspects mines in Northern Ireland, under an agency agreement.