Investigation - Stage 4: Accessing specialists - Additional guidance

HSE specialist support

Specialists offer a range of experience and expertise across scientific, technical and medical disciplines.

HSE specialist support should be considered in the following circumstances:

in support of HSE's programme and project work, particularly through inspection, enforcement, promotional and representational work, and similar activities
to provide information/advice on an informal basis
when undertaking reactive incident investigation work
to provide independent expert witness testimony
where technical input is required to assess the wider implications of a new or previously unknown risk that may lead to internal guidance or a Safety Bulletin
to assist permissioning activities
to provide information and advice on product safety legislation and relevant standards
to indicate which Essential Health & Safety Requirements (EHSR) have not been complied with when dealing with product safety enquiries
in the execution of HSE's statutory functions, for example the approval of appointed doctors
in the development of guidance and standards
to assist in the training of HSE staff
to gain access to the services of HSL or external consultants, and where help is needed in the interpretation of reports and advice provided by these agencies.

Commissioning services from HSL or external consultants

Specialists act as the Technical Customer for commissioning work, known as reactive support, with HSL or external consultants. Requests for reactive support for operational activities, for example an incident investigation, must be channelled through the relevant Specialist Inspector.

Refer to the document Commissioning Procedures with HSL: Reactive Support, accessible to HSE staff from the Guide for Science Customers.

The exceptions to following this procedure are when:

there are agreed procedures for the operational inspector to obtain help directly
the work is simply the scientific analysis of exploratory samples taken by the operational inspector. Such work may still benefit from discussion with the relevant specialist and if there are potentially high cost implications, the scientist may discuss the work with the specialist nominated to authorise the expenditure
assistance/advice from third parties is urgently required and no responsible person from the relevant specialist group or pool is available. In such cases the inspector may contact HSL or a third party directly, but must then inform the relevant specialist group or pool of the action taken promptly after the event so arrangements can be formalised if necessary

back to investigation procedure