Introduction

The Mission Statement of the Commission and Executive is :

To ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled.'

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 established the Health and Safety Commission (HSC). HSC is a representative body comprised of appointments made by the Secretary of State after consultation with organisations representing employers, employees, local authorities and other relevant bodies.

The Health and Safety Executive is a distinct statutory body of three people which advises and assists HSC. The Executive's staff are collectively known as HSE and provide administrative and technical support. It is separate from HSC and has its own statutory functions. The HSE Board consists of three members of the Executive (appointed by HSC) and five Directors.

Achievements in 1996/97

• significant progress on implementing the recommendations of HSC's Review of Regulation to simplify and modernise health and safety law. 40 of the 107 sets of regulations identified for removal have now gone;

• major review of all HSC/HSE's guidance. So far, 150 items have been identified as fit for purpose, 236 for revision and 318 for deletion. Publication of simple and practical guidance for small firms on 19 key areas of risk;

• HSC's strategy for small firms was published;

• second phase of the 'Good Health is Good Business' campaign which focuses on dermatitis and occupational cancers was launched in October 1996;

• Development of HSE's enforcement practices. This means better targeted and more in-depth planned inspections though fewer in number and more time spent on the management of health and safety. Also means reaching more people, particularly small firms, through an improved range of contact techniques including seminars and publicity initiatives.

HSE continues to monitor performance against Citizen's Charter standards. The number of enquiries was over 520,000 in 1996/97 and HSE succeeded in maintaining the previous year's record of answering 98% within 10 days. Enquiries answered on the same day rose from 54% in 1992/93 to 81% in 1996/97.

Competing for Quality projects included the strategic contracting out of the delivery of much of HSE's training, and market testing of information technology services, scientific sampling/analysis in the field and internal audit. These initiatives are a key part of an integrated efficiency strategy which also uses other techniques such as business process re-engineering, benchmarking and investment in information technology.

The Health and Safety Laboratory (an agency of HSE) is at present exploring options for the rationalisation of its laboratory estates. Private finance funding is being considered as one of the options within a planned timetable leading to the award of a contract in August 1998.

HSE is committed to improving its performance through the development of the skills and competencies of its staff. All parts of the organisation will be going forward in a phased programme to seek recognition against the national Investors in People standard by mid 1998. The Health and Safety Laboratory and six other divisions and directorates have already achieved the standard.

Plans for 1997/98

HSC/E's key objectives for 1997/98 are:

• improve standards of occupational health including through the Good Health is Good Business campaign;

• implement HSC's strategy for reaching small firms in partnership with local authorities and others;

• continue to press for better regulation and better guidance which is simpler, cleaner and therefore more effective;

• increase client contact, including the time spent by inspectors on site; and

• take forward implementation of the COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards Directive) and to establish the necessary operational procedures.

Key Performance Targets
		1994/95		1995/96		1996/97		1997/98
Key Measure		Set	Achieved	Set	Achieved	Set	Forecast1	Set
FIELD OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE2	Planned Inspections (000's)	1573	142.1	135	120.1	103.5	108	see note4
CHEMICAL AND HAZARDOUS INSTALLATIONS DIVISION4	Planned Inspections	-	-	-	-	3,130	3,400	3,800
	Major Hazard Reports Assessed	150	213	150	160	200	230	175
MINES INSPECTORATE	Planned Inspections	1,290	1,479	1,367	1,211	1,340	1,390	1,200
RAILWAYS INSPECTORATE	Planned Inspections	2,080	1,801	1,944	1,722	1,800	2,250	1,840
NUCLEAR SAFETY DIVISION	Nuclear Site Inspections	830	830	800	859	800	920	800
	Formal Actions under Licence	352	474	320	520	350	360	400
OFFSHORE SAFETY DIVISION	Safety Cases Completed	140	108	140	202	200	130	157

1.	Estimated outturn. Final figures will be included in the HSC annual report to be published in October 1997
2.	Following a re-structuring of HSE in 1995/96, the Chemicals and Hazardous Installations Division was created. There are some discontinuities in some of its measures and in Field Operations Directorate's measures.
3.	This output measure was revised to 135,000 to reflect greater emphasis on other information, advisory and enforcement techniques.
4.	A new output measure being introduced for 1977/98 will include all inspection, investigation and other types of regulatory contact with 'clients', for example on site or at meetings. The current estimate is that the Directorate will make around 145,000 such contacts including planned inspections.