HSE accused of limiting investigations into deaths

Deaths of and injuries to members of the public are no longer subject to inquiry by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors, according to the Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA).

The HSE also no longer inspects hospitals, the police, local authorities and others to see whether they are complying with their public safety duties.

HSE's new, highly restrictive policy is contained in internal guidance to inspectors, operational from October last year. Although it is not available officially, the CCA has published the guidance on its website.

The CCA only found out about the new policy when one of its advice workers asked the HSE why it was refusing to investigate the death of a member of the public. The CCA says the principal reason for this shift is the lack of financial resources.

CCA director David Bergman said: "We are very concerned about this new policy. The HSE has a statutory obligation to establish adequate arrangements for enforcing public safety duties imposed upon employers under health and safety law. This new policy appears to be an attempt to subvert this requirement."

The new policy and comments are on the CCA website at www.corporateaccountability.org