-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	NUKES_NGOS: HSE TO CONTRIBUTE SAFETY REPORT TO ENERGY REVIEW
Date: 	Mon, 23 Jan 2006 15:20:00 -0000
From: 	Syed Ahmed <[log in to unmask]>
To: 	[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>



HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE
23 January 2006
HSE TO CONTRIBUTE SAFETY REPORT TO ENERGY REVIEW

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed today that it is to
produce a report on health and safety issues relating to significant
energy sources and technologies, as a contribution to the
Government's Energy Review.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has asked HSE for an
expert report that assesses potential risks associated with new
energy developments and sets out HSE's regulatory approach to
ensuring these risks are sensibly managed by industry.

HSE Chief Executive, Geoffrey Podger, said: "Safety is an important
consideration in this Review and HSE welcomes the Government's
recognition of this. There are risks associated with energy
generation and distribution, as with most industrial activity.
Sensible health and safety is about managing such risks effectively,
not eliminating them, and ensuring the regulatory system enjoys
public confidence. HSE is committed to working with others to improve
health and safety but without hindering technological and industrial
development.

"HSE has established a project team to deliver the HSE report, which
will be published, by the end of June. HSE will provide independent,
expert advice on health and safety issues. It will not be for HSE to
offer views on the desirability or economic viability of specific
energy options.

DTI has asked HSE to offer expert advice on risks, both to workers
and the public, arising from some recent and possible future
developments, including:

* An increasing need for gas storage as the UK becomes an importer;

* New demonstration projects for carbon capture and storage, and its
potential in the UK;

* Increasing penetration of renewables (e.g. wind, wave, biomass) and
distributed generation; and

* In the event of the building of new nuclear power stations, the
potential role of pre-licensing assessments of candidate designs.

Geoffrey Podger concluded: "HSE is pleased to have been asked to make
this contribution to the Energy Review and we are committed firmly to
delivering a quality product to DTI by the end of June."

Notes to editors

1 For further details of the Energy Review see
www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review <http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review>.

2 HSE is the independent health and safety regulator for a range of
energy-related industries, e.g. coal mining, offshore oil and gas
production, nuclear power generation, gas and electricity
transmission (i.e.pipelines and the electricity grid), and has a
wealth of experience and expertise in risk assessment and management.

3 Under the provisions of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (as
amended), a licence is required for the operation of nuclear reactors
and certain other installations. HSE issues these site licenses
through its Nuclear Safety Directorate (also known as the Nuclear
Installations Inspectorate, or NII).

Press enquiries
Mark Wheeler: 020 7717 6905
Out of hours : 020 7928 8382

Public enquiries
HSE's InfoLine: 0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG

HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet
www.hse.gov.uk/ <http://www.hse.gov.uk/>




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