The Government’s Focus on Enforcement (FoE) initiative has been praised by the chemical and hazardous installation industry.
Speaking yesterday (Monday 11) at the Westminister Business Forum, Delivering better enforcement and business growth, Peter Baker, acting director, hazardous installations at the HSE, praised the recent enforcement evaluation saying that it was helping to “ease the transition into the regulatory regime.”
Launched in March 2012, the FoE conducted a series of short reviews that looked at the impact of how regulators (such as the HSE and the Environment Agency) enforced their regulation, with the aim of creating clear transparency within each industry sector.
Michael Fallon MP, who opened the forum, was keen to state that ultimately, “enforcement ensures that regulation is reaching its intended aim”, an opinion echoed by panellist Steve Elliott, chief executive from the Chemical Industries Association who also urged the industry to “bring together all authorities within intervention.”
Representing the HSE, Peter Baker made clear that his industry’s focus was still firmly on safety, “The regime is focused on the front-end at preventing accidents,” he said.
In the magazine
December’s issue of SHP will feature an article on the EU’s new chemical regulations and what it will mean to the safety and health industry.
