The HSE was formed by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and operated on 1st January 1975.
It played a central role in reducing workplace death and injury, particularly over the last 50 years, enabling Great Britain to become one of the safest places in the world to work. In 1974, 651 employees were killed at work, while HSE’s latest annual statistics for 2023/24 show that number had fallen to 138.
Chief executive of HSE, Sarah Albon, said that with Britain’s workplaces having transformed so much over the past five decades, the mission of the regulator has never been so poignant.
Sarah said: “Over the past half-century, the Health and Safety Executive has led the way in establishing Great Britain as a safe place to work. As we look ahead to the next 50 years, we recognize there is still much for HSE to take on.
“We’re proud of our successes over the last five decades, but the fact remains that any work-related death is a tragedy, and there are still far too many workers suffering ill health brought about by work activity.
“In 2022, we launched our 10-year strategy, Protecting People and Places, to build on HSE’s strong foundations and address our current and future challenges.
“So today, HSE’s role goes beyond worker protection to include public safety assurance on a range of issues. Recent years have added new responsibilities, such as becoming the appointed Building Safety Regulator and playing an extended role in chemical regulation, post-Brexit.
“It is hard to foresee what the world of work will look like in the next 50 years but as ever, our fundamental principle will continue to be to make sure that those who create risk, take responsibility for controlling risk, and those who fail to do so will be held to account.
“We will continue to work with businesses, with industry, with other regulators, and with government, to enable strong economic growth, while we continue to deliver our founding principles as we work to protect people and places.”
Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms said, “I’m delighted to wish a very happy 50th anniversary to the Health and Safety Executive.
“Over the last half-century, this organisation has been at the heart of efforts to protect people and places across Britain: I would like to thank them for this vital work.
“As we support more people to get into work through our Get Britain Working White paper, and as we move to strengthen protection for workers, their mission will be as important as ever – now and long into the future.”
