HSC and HSE merger planned

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has published a public consultation document seeking views on a merging between themselves and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), into a single health and safety authority. The HSC believes a merger will modernise their corporate governance and provide a stronger voice for health and safety. They would become the governing body of the new organisation and retain their current independence, while the merger would provide:

• 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, employee and local government backgrounds.

Commenting on the consultation, HSC Chairman Bill Callaghan, said "We decided earlier in the 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 to provide the accountability expected of a public body in the 21st century. Our conclusion is that merging the HSC and HSE into a single body will give us a more robust governance framework, improve our working practice and create a stronger voice for health and safety in Great Britain."

The deadline for responses to the consultation is 5 March 2007.