Type
Internal restructuring
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Location of affected unit(s)
Sector
Public Administration And Defence
Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security
Administration Of The State And The Economic And Social Policy Of The Community
84.11 - General public administration activities

250 - 350 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
11 August 2006
Employment effect (start)
Foreseen end date
1 April 2008

Description

Government regulatory body the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it is to cut its staff by 250-350 by April 2008 to meet a Government imposed budget. Geoffrey Podger, HSE chief executive, said that the reductions would be achieved through natural wastage, axing contract staff and 'limited voluntary redundancies'. There were no plans for compulsory redundancies. The Department for Work Pensions, which funds the HSE, has been told by the Treasury to cut its budget by 5%. As a result the HSE said its finances had been cut in real terms.

Unions have attacked the decision's implications for workplace safety in addition to the redundancies. Kay Carberry, TUC assistant general secretary, said yesterday: 'These (latest) cuts will heighten concerns over the already low levels of workplace inspections. We urge the government to review the resources made available to the HSE to carry out this important work.'

The HSE, however, said the latest cuts would not affect front-line staff monitoring hazardous industries such as the nuclear sector, offshore oil and gas exploration and production, and on-shore and offshore fuel storage sites such as Buncefield oil storage depot destroyed by an explosion in December.


Sources

  • 11 August 2006: The Financial Times

Citation

Eurofound (2006), Health and Safety Executive, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 63894, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/63894.