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Health and Safety Executive


What is the Health and Safety Executive?

The Health and Safety Executive is non-departmental public agency in the United Kingdom. The Health and Safety Executive is the agency responsible for the regulation, encouragement and enforcement of workplace safety, health and welfare. Moreover, the Health and Safety Executive applies research-based methods into occupational risks in Scotland, England and Wales. Responsibility regarding implementing workplace safety protocol in Northern Island lies with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. 

The Health and Safety Executive was formed by the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974. Since its establishment, the Health and Safety Executive has absorbed already-established bodies, including the Factory Inspectorate and the Railway Inspectorate. 

The Health and Safety Executive is formally sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. A decent percentage of the agency’s work is to investigate industrial accidents, including major incidents such as fires and explosions. 

What are the Functions of the Health and Safety Executive?

The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for the following:

• The Health and Safety Executive assists and encourages individuals concerned with matters pertaining to the operation of the goals of the Health and Safety Work Act of 1974.

• The Health and Safety Executive makes arrangements for securing employers, government departments and their respective representing organizations. Moreover, the health and Safety Act are provided with advisory services and are kept informed of such matters. 

• The Health and Safety Executive proposes regulations to ensure employers are keeping their workers safe.

Structure of the Health and Safety Executive:

Local authorities in the United Kingdom are responsible for enforcing health and safety rules in offices, consumer shops and other parts of the service industry. Agencies belonging to the Health and Safety Executive include the following:

The Health and Safety Laboratory:

The Health and Safety laboratory employs hundreds of engineers, social scientists, technical specialists and health professionals. These services include the following sub-departments:

• Research and Development

• Forensic investigation in the causes of accidents

• Consultancy and specialist advice boards

• Biological monitoring and Environmental boards

• Assessment of levels of risk and investigation of control

• Validation and certification boards

• Establishing requirements for processes and standards for meeting such standards. 

The Nuclear Directorate:

This agency of the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for the following main functions:

• Security of civilian nuclear transport and sites

• Impose safety regulations for nuclear safety and radioactive waste management facilities

• Nuclear safety research programs

• Safeguard civilian nuclear material to prevent the creation of nuclear weapons

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