§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Employment when he proposes to introduce regulations for notification of accidents and dangerous occurrences arising from work activities.
§ Mr. John GrantThe Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that certain accidents and dangerous occurrences arising from work activities in premises subject to the Factories Act 1961 and the Mines and Quarries Act 1954 are already required to be notified to the appropriate enforcing authority, this being the Health and Safety Executive. Notification is also required for certain accidents within the scope of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963, the Explosives Act 1875, and the Petroleum Consolidation Act 1928. Dangerous occurrences at licensed sites are required to be notified under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. The enforcing authority for all these acts is the Health and Safety Executive except for the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act where, in certain circumstances, it may be the local authority.
Consideration is being given to proposals to extend the requirements to notify accidents and dangerous occurrences to all work activities subject to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and following earlier extensive consultation, the proposals are now being reviewed before being presented to the Health and Safety Commission.