GENERAL POLICY

• The Commission should incorporate the principle of 'accountability' as one of its goals.
• The Commission should clearly distinguish the purposes of an inspection from those of an investigation.
• The Commission should stop using the word 'accident' unless necessary and appropriate.

INSPECTION

• The HSC should draft new guidelines to inspectors advising them to make a much greater use of legal notices on detection of breaches of safety law.

INVESTIGATION OF INJURIES/DEATHS

• The Commission should establish specialised investigation units.
• The Commission should provide specialist investigation training to inspectors and draft an investigation manual based upon best practice.
• The Commission should make clear that in principle it is in favour of investigating all reports of major and other serious injuries and disease.
• The Commission should rewrite the set of criteria used to determine which of the many injuries reported should be investigated
• The HSE should extend its 'protocol of liaison' to deal with the investigation of wider set of offences.

PROSECUTION

• The Commission should substantially revise its written prosecution policy along the lines of the Environment Agency's policy and guidelines.
• The Commission should ensure that the Executive follows the Code of Crown Prosecutors at all times.
• The HSE should establish regional prosecution offices, linked to the investigation units, employing lawyers responsible for the prosecution of offences.

DIRECTORS

• The Commission should support legal reform that would impose upon directors legal duties relating to safety.
• The Commission should devise new policies to ensure that company directors are properly informed of safety failures within their companies.