25 July 2004 - Work and Pensions Committee Report on the Work of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive Welcomed
The report by the Work and Pensions Committee on the work of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive, (HSC and HSE) which has been published, has been welcomed by Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission.
The report has made 35 conclusions and recommendations, including doubling the number of field HSE inspectors, which are generally known to be under-resourced. In order to provide the required amount of active inspectors, £50m covering a space of several years is envisaged.
Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission commented:
“We are
very pleased that the Committee believes the Health and Safety Executive is
a high quality organisation and that it recognises that Great Britain has
one of the best health and safety records in Europe.
“We are also pleased that there is strong support for the current
legislative framework on health and safety.
“Many of the recommendations are complex and will need to be examined in
detail. Some, such as those relating to resources and legislation, are for
other parts of Government. For those directed to HSC and HSE, we will
contribute to the Government’s response in due course.”
Main conclusions of the report are:
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concerns about the limited progress that appears to have been made in reaching targets and does not believe that there is any realistic prospect of achieving the 2004 targets
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the HSC has identified crown immunity, corporate killing and higher fines as areas in which it believes legislative change would help it achieve its targets. However, the report expresses concern at the length of time reforms of the laws are taking and calls for a Bill on corporate killing by 1 December 2004
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the number of inspectors in HSE's Field Operations Directorate to be doubled. The report says inspection, backed by enforcement, is most effective in motivating duty holders to comply with their responsibilities
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the Committee says that giving safety representatives powers to enforce health and safety law in the workplace, such as issuing prohibition and improvement notices, would have a powerful effect in improving standards
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a more proactive approach to enforcement action towards employers who disproportionately rely on temporary agency workers
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at-work road traffic incidents should be required to be reported pursuant to RIDDOR
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for all its major procurement contracts, the Government should only buy from suppliers who have proved to the Government that they comply with UK health and safety legislation and have satisfactory health and safety procedures and practices in place
The report - The Work of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive can be found by clicking here.
