Lord Berkeleyasked Her Majesty's Government: On what basis the Health and Safety Commission classes the railways, along with gas conveyance, explosives, offshore and nuclear installations, as major hazardous industries; and why they do not include road transport in this category. [HL6]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)The Health and Safety Commission classes major hazard industries as those industries where a failure to eliminate, control or mitigate the main hazards arising in those industries could lead to a catastrophic incident occurring. Such industries are characterised by potentially dangerous operations involving complex management control arrangements and complex technical processes. Road transport is not the same. The main hazard is human error, which road transport legislation is designed to minimise.