Your right to know
A large part of HSE's daily business is to provide information to the public about our activities and health and safety issues. We therefore publish lots of information as a matter of routine via our website, publication scheme and publications section. You may therefore find the information you are looking for without the need to make a formal request for information.
The Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) give you the right to request official information held by HSE. If you cannot find the information you require via our website, you can submit a written request for information to the appropriate HSE office. Your request should include your name, contact address (email or postal) and details of the information you require. To assist HSE, you should identify the information you require as clearly as possible.
Freedom of Information Act (FOI)
Following your request, HSE will let you know if we hold the information requested and disclose it to you unless we have good reason for keeping it confidential. HSE cannot withhold information from you unless a relevant FOI exemption applies.
Further information on your rights under the Freedom of Information Act can be found at Directgov.
Environmental Information Regulations (EIR)
The EIR operate in a similar way to FOI although they relate specifically to official environmental information held by HSE. Environmental information includes information about the air, water, soil, land, plants and animals, energy, noise, waste and emissions and any policies, decisions or activities that could affect them.
Following a request, HSE will let you know if we hold the information requested and disclose it to you unless we have good reason for keeping it confidential. HSE cannot withhold information from you unless an EIR exception applies.
Further information on your rights under the Environmental Information Regulations can be found at Directgov.
Data Protection Act (DPA)
The Data Protection Act regulates how HSE processes information relating to individuals, including the obtaining, holding, use of and disclosure of such information. The Act also gives you the right to request personal information about yourself. This is known as a Subject Access Request. Requests about yourself must be received via hard copy letter and include your name, contact address and any other information to help identify you and the information you need. Please submit your request to the appropriate HSE Office.
The Health and Safety Executive ensures that information is obtained, processed, stored, disclosed and disposed of in a way that complies with the Data Protection Act. Further details about uses and disclosure of personal information can be found in our Privacy Policy.
Further information about the Data Protection Act can be found via the ICO website.