Health and Safety Executive: 3-yearly review of its future as a non-departmental public body

The Department for Work and Pensions has reviewed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in accordance with the government’s commitment to review all public bodies every 3 years (the ‘triennial review’).

The review:

• challenges the continuing need for HSE as a non-departmental public body – in particular, whether the functions carried out by HSE are still needed, and whether a non-departmental public body remains the best way to provide them
• questions whether the HSE meets the requirements of good corporate governance

This is not a review of the government’s underlying policy on health and safety at work.

We welcomed views from all interested parties, but particularly from those with a direct interest in the work of HSE, including:

• employers and their representative bodies
• the self-employed
• employees and their representative bodies
• HSE and its staff
• voluntary and third sector organisations
• professional bodies
• local authorities
• other government departments and the devolved administrations