Health & Safety Report 2014

HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT 2014

6.4 The Health and Safety Executive’s Triennial Review As a non-departmental public body (NDPB), the HSE has to undergo a substantive review by stakeholders at least once every three years. The purpose is to gain assurance from stakeholders that the functions delivered by the HSE continue to be necessary and that they are best delivered by an NDPB rather than by some alternative form of agency. The triennial review also requires stakeholders to consider and comment on the HSE’s efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out its duties and on its controls and governance. The Oil & Gas UK submission on behalf of industry concluded that the HSE should continue as a NDPB and made a number of comments on its efficiency and effectiveness 17 . 6.5 Approved Codes of Practice The Lὄfstedt review of health and safety legislation, published in November 2011 18 , recommended that the HSE reviews all approved codes of practices (ACOPs) within an agreed timetable. The initial review led to a more detailed review of a number of relevant ACOPs, and in 2013, the HSE sought industry views on proposed revisions to three established ACOPs, namely:

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) • Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 • Legionnaires’ Disease: the Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water (L8)

In line with the UK Government’s drive to reduce the legislative burden on industry while maintaining suitable standards of health and safety, the proposed revisions were all geared towards clarifying and simplifying the ACOPs.

Oil & Gas UK formed topic-specific work groups and sought members’ views, subsequently submitting industry responses that broadly supported the proposed revisions and offered only minor suggestions for improvement.

17 The outcomes of the HSE’s triennial review can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/triennial-review-of-the-health-and-safety-executive 18 The Löfstedt report on health and safety legislation is available to download at www.gov.uk/government/publications/reclaiming-health-and-safety-for-all-lofstedt-report

page 38