Use and value of research

We evaluate how research projects are conducted and how the outputs are used by HSE and the wider community. This helps us understand their value in contributing to our objectives of preventing people being killed, injured or made ill by work.

We commission a wide range of research projects and the time frames between completion of research, use of outputs and indications of their impact are variable.

Because research may be only one of a number of factors that contribute to HSE policies or interventions, it can be difficult to attribute its impact and value objectively. We therefore adopt a pragmatic approach, taking an overview of individual projects and programmes of research to examine quality, relevance, use by HSE and overall value.

We assess use in the following ways. A summary of findings is included in the Science Review 2017:

• External reviews:
  • HSL Science Review October 2012
  • HSL Science Review May 2012
  • HSL Science Review 2010
  • HSL Science Review 2009
  • Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) Science Review of the HSE - 2007
  • HSE Response to the OSI Science Review
• Independent peer reviews Independent peer review of outputs from individual projects or groups of projects is undertaken where it is considered relevant and the requirement for peer review is notified at the proposal development stage and when the work is commissioned
• Internal reviews and feedback Internal staff who commission science projects are invited and expected to provide feedback on completion of individual projects. This tells us:
  • whether the objectives were met
  • whether the knowledge gap was filled
  • whether the project completed to time, budget and scientific quality
  • and identifies the outputs

• Case studies:These address a number of research projects in specific topic areas. They examine how research outputs have been used to provide an assessment of overall outcomes and impact. See the Annual Science Review 2017.