Health and Safety Commission Annual Report and the Health and Safety Commission/Executive Accounts 2005/06 et wah © Crown.copyright 2006. .: ISBN 0 10 2938148 ~ ‘The text in this document (excluding the Royal Arms and departmental logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the title of the document specified. Any enquiries relating to the copyright in this document should be addressed to: Licensing Division, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, St Clements House, 2-16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ Fax: 01603 723000 E-mail: hmsolicensing @cabinet-office.x. gsi. gov.uk MANU 2250 Health and Safety Commission Annual Report and the Health and Safety Commission/Executive Accounts 2005/06 WVELLCOME LIDRARY Ama Rep 1 Contents LA// i | 1M JINL 2906 Part 1: Health and Safety Commission Part 2: Health and Safety Commission Accounts Annual Report 2005/06 1 and Health and Safety Executive Accounts 2005/06 39 About us 8 Statement of the Commission’s, the Executive's, the Cees toroverd hi Chairman’s and the Chief Executive’s responsibilities 44 Piet Biccinice taro 5 Statement on internal control 42 Health and Safety Commission How we work if Ks The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Achievements during the year g Auditor General to the Houses of Parliament 45 Fit for work, Fit for life, Fit for tomorrow (Fit3) 12 Health and Safety Commission Major Hazards 43 Operating Cost Statement for the year ended 31 March 2006 47 Working with local authorities 14 ae Health and Safety Commission Enforcement 15 Notes to the Accounts 48 Policy 16 Health and Safety Executive Conanunication 17 The Certificate and Report of the Comipntoiier | and Auditor General to the Houses of Parliament on Science, engineering and technology 18 ; Health and Safety Executive Managing our business 19 Operating Cost Statement for the year ended Management commentary 20 31 March 2006 53 Remuneration report 29 Health and Safety Executive Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2006 54 Annex 1: HSE’s structure 34 Health and Safety Executive Annex 2: Health and safety in HSE 35 Cash Flow Statement for the year ended Annex 3: Better Regulation 36 31 March 2006 55 Health and Safety Executive Notes to the Accounts 56 Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State in pursuance of section 10(6) and paragraph 15 of Schedule 2 to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and by the Comptroller and Auditor General in pursuance of section 10(6) and paragraphs 14 and 20 of Schedule 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 29 June 2006. London: The Stationery Office HC 1115 This report can be downloaded free from the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/0506 Part 1. Health and Safety Commission Annual Report 2005/06 Health and Safety Commission Annual Report and the Health and Safety Cornmission/Exe Health and Safety Commission Annual Report and the Health and Safety Commission/Executive Accounts 2005/06 About us The Health and Safety Commission The Health and Safety Past commissioners: (HSC) is responsible for regulating Commission health and safety in Great Britain. Judith Hackitt The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local government are the (appointment ended enforcing authorities who work in ee Bill Callaghan (Chair) : 28 February 2006) support of the Commission. Clir Joyce HSE looks after health and safety Edmond-Smith in nuclear installations and mines, Lael Margaret Burns CBE (appointment ended factories, farms, hospitals and schools, 31 March 2006) offshore gas and oil installations, onshore chemicals, the safety of the You can find biographies for each of the gas grid, railway safety and many Danny Carrigan Commissioners on our website at: other aspects of the protection both www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/hsc/ of workers and the public. (Her commissioners.htm. Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate and Railways Policy transferred from HSE ley Judith Donovan CBE to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) The Health and Safety on 1 April 2006.) Local authorities Executive (LAs) are responsible to HSC for enforcement in offices, shops and Dr Sayeed Khan Geoffrey Podger =a other parts of the services sector. Chief Executive (appointed 28 November The Department for Work and Pensions 2005, following the retirement of (DWP) sponsors HSC/E. The Rt Hon John Longworth Timothy Walker on 30 September 2005) John Hutton became Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in November | | Justin McCracken 2005, the post previously held by the | Deputy Chief Executive Rt Hon David Blunkett MP. Lord Philip Hugh Robertson (Operations) Hunt of Kings Heath OBE is DWP’s Parliamentary Under Secretary (Lords) Jonathan Rees with responsibility for occupational Deputy Chief Executive health and safety. Elizabeth Snape (Policy) For further information, please refer You can get a copy of the register of to the Management commentary New commissioners: interests relating to members of the (pages 20-28) or visit our website at: Health and Safety Commission and www.hse.gov.uk Sandy Blair CBE the Health and Safety Executive by (appointment comm- contacting the HSC Secretariat at: enced 1 April 2006) Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS; or by phoning 020 7717 6611. John Spanswick (appointment comm- enced 1 May 2006) Health and Safety Commission Annual Report and the Health and Safety Commission/Executive Accounts 2005/06 Chair’s foreword This report summarises We aim to be a modern regulator, committed to protecting people at work, but committed the invaluable work also to meeting the Better Regulation challenge. undertaken by colleagues in HSE and local The HSC/E’s draft simplification plan for regulation, published in November 2005, which authorities to improve was commended by the Chair of the Government’s Better Regulation Task Force,* is health and safety founded upon our risk-based targeted approach to the enforcement of legislation that is comprehensible and easy to comply with. in Great Britain. The Government, Commission and HSE have been actively campaigning over the course The Commission are of the year to promote a debate around ‘sensible risk’ and tackling ‘risk aversion’. We have proud to have played engaged to good effect with a number of key stakeholders including politicians, employer their part in this process organisations, trade unions, insurers, lawyers and professional bodies. and were pleased to discuss the welcome The Buncefield Oil Depot explosion and fire is a salutary reminder that risks to workers and the public still have to be properly controlled. In December 2005 the Commission, exercising progress towards meeting its powers under Section 14(2)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, formally the Revitalising Health asked HSE and the Environment Agency (EA) to investigate. The Commission appointed and Safety targets with an Investigation Board comprising an independent chair, Lord Newton of Braintree, two stakeholders in November independent members and HSE and EA staff. We have made clear that the investigation 2005. Further details should be thorough and impartial and that, subject to legal considerations, there should be no are in the report but delay in sharing. with industry and communities close to major hazard sites the lessons learnt the latest figures show from this incident. over four million fewer working days lost because The transfer of HSE’s rail safety functions to the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR) took of injury and ill health place at 1 April 2006. HSC/E can look back with pride over 16 years during which it had in 2004/05 compared stewardship for rail safety. | wish HSE staff who transferred to ORR well in continuing to meet with the position at the the challenges of improving the health and safety of rail workers and passengers. beginning of the decade. It was with great sadness that the Commission learnt of George Brumwell’s death in November 2005. George, General Secretary of the Union of Construction and Allied Trades and a member of the Commission from 1998-2004, made an immense contribution to driving health and safety improvements in the construction industry. The year also marked the departure of two Commissioners: Judith Hackitt, who had served from 2002, and Joyce Edmond-Smith, who had served from 1997. Their work in promoting health and safety is greatly appreciated. Timothy Walker retired in September 2005 after five years as HSE’s Director General. The Commission thanks Timothy for his contribution, welcomes the new Chief Executive, Geoffrey Podger, and looks forward to working with him and all HSE colleagues in the coming year. Bill Callaghan Chairman Health and Safety Commission * The Better Regulation Task Force became the Better Regulation Commission in January 2006. Health and Safety Commission Annual Report and the Health and Safety Commission/Executive Accounts 2005/06 Chief Executive’s foreword This is the first Annual Report to which | have the pleasure of contributing a foreword following my appointment as HSE Chief Executive in November 2005. Within that short space of time | have been deeply impressed by the commitment and professionalism of all my HSE colleagues and by the paramount need to continue to be vigilant in protecting the health and safety of those at work, co-operating closely with other enforcers, responsible employers and employees themselves. HSE can, in my view, take considerable satisfaction in the achievements of the past year. Much has been done to strengthen our relationship with local authority colleagues, business and community leaders and with trade unions. The Backs! 2005 campaign was, for example, a major communications success and gives us a sound basis to continue the work with stakeholders. A lot of work has been done to ensure both that we remain a responsible and balanced regulator and to combat excesses of risk complacency and risk aversion. Neither have a place in our thinking or actions. It is also important to stress that during the year, not only new innovative approaches, but also the more traditional inspection and enforcement roles of HSE were key to maintaining and enhancing workplace safety and well-being. Finally, | should put on record HSE's appreciation of the Health and Safety Commission's key role in taking forward the health and safety agenda. Bill Callaghan, as Chair, and all the Commissioners have not only worked tirelessly for our joint agenda, but have also given up much of their time to supporting and encouraging the staff of the Executive at many different levels in a myriad of activities. This is much appreciated. Geoffrey Podger CB Chief Executive Health and Safety Executive