Health and Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Executive ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled. The HSE is interested in the health and safety of people at work - that includes people who may be harmed by the way work is done (for example because they live near a factory, or are passengers on a train). In some situations, the HSE is also concerned with the way work affects the environment.
 
The HSC develops new health and safety laws and standards, and play a full part in international developments, especially in the European Union and:

• inspect workplaces;
• investigate accidents and cases of ill health;
• enforce good standards, usually by advising people how to comply with the law, but sometimes by ordering them to make improvements and, if necessary, by prosecuting them;
• publish guidance and advice;
• provide an information service;
• carry out research;
• carry out various activities such as nuclear site licensing and accepting off shore installation safety cases.