The relocation of the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate (HSWI) to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) would mean an improved service for the public.
Tynwald will be asked to approve the move when it sits next week.
If the go-ahead is given, the four-strong team that makes up the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate will be amalgamated with DEFA’s existing environmental protection, environmental health and food safety staff in a single Environment, Safety and Health Directorate.
Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, was responsible for the HSWI in his previous role as a Member of the Department of Infrastructure.
He said:
‘I was keen to see the inspectorate move to DEFA, where it would complement the other functions, and it is thanks to a lot of hard work by officers that, subject to the will of Tynwald, this can be progressed.’
The Minister said the move would have numerous benefits for the public.
‘A larger pool of qualified officers and inspectors operating within a single Directorate will allow us to deliver a better and more efficient service than can currently be delivered by two separate teams operating within two different Departments under two distinct management structures,’ the Minister said.
‘For example, businesses would benefit from a reduction in the number of regulatory agencies they have to liaise with, which could save them money and reduce the number of different visits they receive, as inspectors would be competent to cover the full range of health, safety and hygiene issues in a single visit.
‘The new Directorate would be a single source of information and advice on how to achieve and maintain appropriate standards across a wide range of environment, safety and health issues.’
The Minister added:
‘Reservations that have been expressed about the DoI – a Department responsible for delivering a wide range of potentially higher risk functions – being the appropriate home for the agency responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation would also be addressed by this transfer.’
Bernard Warden, currently head of the HSWI, would lead the newly expanded DEFA division following the retirement of current Director of Environment, Martin Hall.
The HSWI ensures standards of control over health and safety risks are implemented in workplaces. It helps businesses identify and control the risks associated with their undertakings and checks they are complying with the law.
Inspectors and officers in the new combined directorate will work pro-actively with businesses to prevent incidents from occurring but will occasionally need to take enforcement action when significant risks are identified or when serious incidents result from failure to comply with legislation.
The HSWI’s other primary role is to review health and safety legislation to ensure that it is current, fit for purpose and easy to understand.
