The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) have published a public consultation on the suggested merging of the HSC with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), for the provision of one single health and safety authority.
It is the view of the HSC that by merging with the HSE, it would provide a modern, stronger governance framework for health and safety.
The consultation explains how the governing body of the new authority would be the HSC. They would continue their current independence, continue links with stakeholders, but would have the added bonus of "strengthening their capacity to challenge and support delivery."
Suggested provisions of the merger are as follows:
- There would be a more accountable structure in line with current best practice.
- Better decision making and a clearer public and regulatory presence;
for the continued independence of the safety regulator. - A balanced structure at arm’s length from Ministers.
- Membership for representatives from employer and employee backgrounds, with a seat for local Government and a member designated to maintain links with the devolved authorities.
HSC Chairman, Bill Callaghan, Commenting on the consultation, said:
“We believe that our governance structures – the infrastructure that supports our decision- making – have served us well in the past. In particular, the broad partnership nature of the HSC, its independence and its strong links with Local Authorities are assets we wish to maintain. Equally, the shape of the labour market, the nature of workplace risks and stakeholder expectations are very different to those which created the backdrop to the Health and Safety at Work Act thirty years ago.
“We therefore decided earlier this year that the time was right to look critically at how our governance arrangements compare with best practice, what works well at present and whether we could strengthen the links between strategy and delivery necessary to provide the accountability expected of a public body in the 21st century.
“Our conclusion is that merging the Commission and Executive into a single body will give us a more robust governance framework, improve our working practices and create a stronger voice for health and safety in Great Britain."We believe that our proposals take the best from the existing governance arrangements, updating them to instil the drivers necessary for re-invigorating the decision-making framework within which we work and strengthening our existing partnerships, particularly those with Local Authorities.”
Your views for the suggested merger are invited in the public consultation, which can be downloaded from the HSE webpage by clicking the following:
Article by Alexandra Johnston
