We recently attended a meeting that included a presentation from Judith Hackitt (HSE`s chair) and below are some of the highlights from the session:

• Every year brings new challenges and the HSE needs to continually adapt;
• The HSWA has been confirmed as fundamentally fit for purpose;
• The HSE acknowledges the need for modernisation and improvement;
• Part of the HSE role is to make things easier for duty holders to understand what they need to do;
• The HSE will target both high risk sectors and poor performers in lower risk sectors;
• To make full use of the HSE commercial potential – as funding continues to reduce commercial operations are essential to continue to operate to industry expectations;
• To recover more money from those who create the risks;
• Work closely with other countries to help them raise their health & safety standards – and raise much needed funds;

These are just some of the highlights presented but hopefully provide some guidance on where the HSE is focussing. What was made clear is that although the HSE will need to find ways of raising more of its own funding; commercialisation is not privatisation.