Reference Material

Material de Consulta

Technical Text

Centro de Industria y La Construcción

Regional Tolima
Ibagué
2018
The Health and Safety Executive

(HSE) is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health,
safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in Great Britain. It is a non-departmental
public body of the United Kingdom with its headquarters in Liverpool, England.[1] In Northern Ireland,
these duties lie with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. The HSE was created by the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and has since absorbed earlier regulatory bodies such as the
Factory Inspectorate and the Railway Inspectorate though the Railway Inspectorate was transferred to
the Office of Rail Regulation in April 2006. The HSE is sponsored by the Department for Work and
Pensions. As part of its work HSE investigates industrial accidents, small and large, including major
incidents such as the explosion and fire at Buncefield in 2005. Though it formerly reported to the Health
and Safety Commission, on 1 April 2008, the two bodies merged.
Functions
The Executive's duties are to
Assist and encourage persons concerned with matters relevant to the operation of the objectives of the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Make arrangements for and encourage research and publication, training and information in connection
with its work.
Make arrangements for securing government departments, employers, employees, their respective
representative organisations, and other persons are provided with an information and advisory service
and are kept informed of, and adequately advised on such matters.
Propose regulations.
The Executive is further obliged to keep the Secretary of State informed of its plans and ensure
alignment with the policies of the Secretary of State, giving effect to any directions given to it. The
Secretary of State can give directions to the Executive
On 1 April 2006, the Executive ceased to have responsibility for railway safety.
The Executive is responsible for the Employment Medical Advisory Service, which operates as part of its
Field Operations Directorate.
Structure and responsibilities
Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of health and safety legislation in shops, offices,
and other parts of the service sector.
Agencies belonging to the HSE include
Health and Safety Executive, Science Division
Based in Buxton, Derbyshire, the Health and Safety Executive Science Division (HSL- Health & Safety
Laboratory) employs over 350 people including scientists, engineers, psychologists, social scientists,
health professionals and technical specialists.
It was established in 1921 under the Safety in Mines Research Board to carry out large-scale tests
related to mining hazards. Following the formation of the HSE, in 1975 the facilities became a Safety
Engineering Laboratory and an Explosion and Flame Research Laboratory, operating as part of the
Research Laboratories Service Division of the HSE. In 1995 the HSL was formed, including the Buxton site
and laboratories in Sheffield. In 2004 the Sheffield activities moved to Buxton, and the University of
Sheffield took over the Sheffield laboratory site.
It now operates as an agency carrying out scientific research and investigations (e.g. on the Buncefield
fire) for the HSE, other government agencies and the private sector.
HM Inspectorate of Mines
HM Inspectorate of Mines is responsible for the correct implementation and inspection of safe working
procedures within all UK mine workings. It is based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Offshore Safety Division[edit]
The Offshore Safety Division (OSD) was established as a division within HSE in April 1991. This was in
response to recommendations of the Cullen Inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster on 6 July 1988. At the
time of the disaster the Department of Energy (DEn) was responsible for both production and offshore
safety; this was perceived as entailing a conflict of interests. Dr Tony Barrell, Director of HSE’s
Technology and Air Pollution Division was appointed Chief Executive of OSD, having previously been
seconded to the DEn to lead the transfer of responsibilities. At the same time Ministerial oversight was
transferred from the DEn to the Department of Employment. The Offshore Safety Act 1992 made the
Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 and its subsidiary Regulations relevant statutory
provisions of the Health and Safety at work etc, Act 1974. The OSD’s initial responsibilities included the
establishment of the Safety Case Regulations; a thorough review of existing safety legislation and the
move towards a goal setting regulatory regime. OSD became part of the HSE’s new Hazardous
Installations Directorate in 1999; it became part of the new Energy Division in 2013.