The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a UK government executive body responsible for the regulation and enforcement of health and safety legislation. The HSE has a wide range of responsibilities, including the development of health and safety policy, the provision of advice and guidance, the enforcement of health and safety regulations, and the promotion of good practice.
The HSE’s risk management approach aims to protect people from risks to their health and safety by identifying, assessing and controlling those risks. The HSE uses a variety of tools to help businesses manage risks effectively, including risk assessments, audits, incident investigations, and prosecutions.
The HSE recognises that businesses need to strike a balance between protecting their employees and other stakeholders from harm, and ensuring that they can continue to operate effectively. As such, the HSE provides a range of resources and support to help businesses manage risks effectively, including guidance on risk assessments, incident investigations, and prosecutions.
The HSE’s approach to risk management is based on the ‘four pillars’ of prevention, information, enforcement and compliance.
Prevention: The HSE aims to prevent accidents and incidents by identifying and assessing risks and taking action to control them. This includes providing advice and guidance on how to manage risks effectively.
Information: The HSE provides information on health and safety risks through a variety of channels, including its website, publications, research reports, and seminars.
Enforcement: The HSE takes enforcement action where there is a failure to control risks effectively. This includes investigating accidents and incidents, carrying out inspections, and prosecuting businesses and individuals who have breached health and safety legislation.
Compliance: The HSE works with businesses and individuals to ensure they comply with health and safety legislation. This includes providing training and support on compliance issues, as well as carrying out audits and inspections.