The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) was established
over 25 years ago. It is made up of representatives of employers,
employees, local authorities and others. It contributes to the process
of open and democratic decision making by providing advice to Ministers,
co-operating with other regulatory bodies representing UK interests
in the EU, and encouraging well informed debate on risk and its
management.
HSE is the operational arm of the HSC set up to protect the health,
safety and welfare of employees and to safeguard others, principally
the public, who may be exposed to risk from industry. HSE's mission
is to ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work
activities are properly controlled.
HSE's aims are to modernise and simplify the law, secure compliance
with it, provide information and advice, promote risk assessment
and to maintain an efficient and effective service. Change, to keep
pace with developments in technology and business practice and to
meet the needs of our stakeholders, is a central characteristic
of HSE's work.
HSE is a unique organisation with the largest concentration of
occupational health and safety experts in the country. A large range
of professionals are employed, the largest being front line inspectors
of health and safety; other groups include scientists, doctors,
solicitors, journalists, economists, statisticians and administrators.
HSE is a knowledge-based organisation. Information is its working
capital.
Civil Servants operate in a framework created by the law and the
expectations of Government and the public. The way HSE works reflects
this responsibility. HSE is guided by the principles of balancing
legal requirements with the practical needs of industry, prioritising
activities to ensure high risk activities are targeted first, being
consistent in its approach, being accountable to those it serves
and being clear about what it does in fulfillment of Open Government.
HSE is one of the UK's biggest publishers, and its publications
are available in larger public libraries. |
