Memorandum by Dr D Van Steenis (HSE 01)
Due to conflicts of interest within the Environment
Agency, I have been proposing for several years that the EA be
down graded to a licensing agency granting and holding details
of licences, and ordering suitable comprehensive monitoring including
PM2.5 particulates of relevant pollution sources. I have also
been proposing for several years, that HSE in future, carry out
all prosecutions under IPPC on behalf of the Environment Agency
as well as direct, due to evidence of health damage to workers
and/or the public under sections 2 and/or 3 of the Health and
Safety Act. HSE should be given some funding then from the Environment
Agency as well as from central government and should be given
a much more independent role free of interference. At present
serious matters, which might have political overtones are referred
to their head office and prosecutions are prevented by government.
Ten per cent of court fines levied in their prosecutions should
be obtained and diverted to use as performance related bonuses.
That would reward extra hard work and act as a counter balance
to various attempts by guilty parties to influence officers. HSE
should have powers and finance to order independent monitoring
of relevant pollutants from any point source(s) and also order
appropriate health damage epidemiology within postcodes effected
with comparative control figures from an unaffected area. Health
authorities should be ordered to comply with any request. The
work of the HSE is crucial in protecting workers and the public
and they are the only relevant body who have had training in toxicology
unlike councils, health authorities, Environment Agency, etc.
September 1999
|