HSE and waste

• Introduction
• Who does what?
• How HSE works
  • General enquiries
  • Site-specific enquiries
  • Field Operations Division
• HSE inspectors
• Industry sectors
• Our responsibilities to the waste management and recycling industries
• Health and safety in waste management and recycling - Contacts
• Contact HSE

Introduction

HSE is tasked with improving the Health and Safety performance of industry so as to reduce the incidence of work-related accidents and occupational ill-health within industry. This extends not only to employees, but also to members of the public whose health and safety may be affected by a work activity.

These pages explain the structure of HSE and how it is organised to achieve those aims.
HSE's activities include:

• Advice on health and safety issues to duty holders, employees and those affected by work activities
• Investigation of work-related incidents and accidents affecting the health and safety of individuals
• Enforcement when legal duties have not been discharged by duty holders

Who does what?

There are many activities that fall outside the HSE’s areas of responsibility. Instead, they may be covered by powers held by other national or local government bodies.

Examples would include:

Environmental issues

HSE does not deal with environmental issues. These are dealt with by:

• Environment Agency
• Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Public nuisance

Local Authorities are empowered to deal with a wide range of issues that are not the responsibility of the HSE. Usually these matters are dealt with by the Local Authority's Environmental Health or Services Dept.

Offices and Retail premises

Local authorities deal with health and safety issues within offices, warehouses and retail premises.

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How HSE works

General enquiries

For general enquiries on health and safety issues in waste management and recycling, the first contact should be to HSE's Infoline.

Site-specific enquiries

For guidance and advice on local site-specific issues, contact can be made direct to your nearest HSE office or Local Authority (LA) office (see local phone directory). HSE is responsible for enforcing safety legislation in most waste management and recycling workplaces except recycling activities carried out at offices, warehouses and retail sites.

Field Operations Division

HSE is organised into a number of directorates of which the largest is the Field Operations Directorate (FOD).
FOD is the main 'operational arm' of HSE and includes HSE inspectors, industry sector groups and support staff.

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HSE inspectors

HSE has operational inspectors who deal with industry on a daily basis by:

• On-site inspections (announced and unannounced)
• Investigation of accidents and complaints
• Providing guidance, advice and support at visits, by phone or at
  Industry events
• Enforcement where necessary

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Industry sectors

FOD has several different industry sectors. HSE's Manufacturing Sector holds a range of responsibilities, including dealing nationally with health and safety concerns within the Waste Management and Recycling industries.

It provides support at the national level for the Waste Management and Recycling industries and for HSE inspectors dealing with:

• Collection of domestic and industrial waste
• Waste Reception (eg Civic amenity sites and transfer stations)
• Sorting
• Recovery of materials
• Biological treatment of organic material (eg composting)
• Thermal treatment (including incineration with energy recovery)
• Landfill

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Our responsibilities to the waste management and recycling industries

• Gathering intelligence
• Supporting policy development and implementation
• Communicating with industry sector stakeholders, including equipment manufacturers, trade associations, professional associations and trades unions
• Agreeing industry standards
• Working with National and European bodies in the development of standards (eg BSI and CEN standards)
• Publishing guidance in consultation with key stakeholders
• Monitoring health and safety performance
• Supporting activities to meet the Government's Revitalising Health & Safety targets on reducing injuries and occupational ill-health

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