Health and Safety Commission seeks views about merger with the Health and Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Commission has published a consultation document seeking views about a proposed merger with the Health and Safety Executive.

The Health and Safety Commission believes the merger will modernise its corporate governance and provide a stronger voice for health and safety.

According to the Health and Safety Commission, the merger will provide:

• a more accountable structure in line with current best practice
• better decision-making and a clearer public and regulatory presence
• continued independence of the safety regulator
• a balanced structure at arm’s length from ministers
• membership for representatives from employer and employee backgrounds, with a seat for local government and a member designated to maintain links with the devolved authorities.

Bill Callaghan, Health and Safety Commission chairman, said: “The shape of the labour market, the nature of workplace risks and stakeholder expectations are very different to those which created the backdrop to the Health and Safety at Work Act 30 years ago.

“We therefore decided earlier this 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 necessary to provide the accountability expected of a public body in the 21st century.”