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MANAGING INCIDENTS PRESENTING ACTUAL
OR POTENTIAL RISKS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH:
Guidance on the Roles and Responsibilities of Incident Control Teams
Annex 5
STATUTORY AGENCIES' RESPONSIBILITIES
(other than NHS and local Authority Organisations)
Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is an independent food safety watchdog set up by Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food. Its UK headquarters are in London, but the Agency also has a Scottish office in Aberdeen. The FSA provides advice and information to the public and Government on food safety from farm to fork, nutrition and diet. It also protects consumers through effective food enforcement and monitoring
State Veterinary Service
The State Veterinary Service (SVS) covers England, Wales and Scotland but not Northern Ireland. Its head is the Chief Veterinary Officer for Great Britain. The SVS is the lead agency responsible for animal health matters. It exercises the Scottish Executive's statutory responsibilities for responding to notifiable diseases in animals including those which can be transmitted to humans. The SVS in Scotland is an integral part of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department.
Drinking Water Quality Unit
Under the Terms of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, a Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland was appointed in April 2002. He and his staff form the Drinking Water Quality Unit, which has the general functions of monitoring and enforcing drinking water quality standards on the public networks (provided by Scottish Water) and of supervising local authority enforcement of any private water supplies within their remit.
Scottish Water
Scottish Water was created from a merger of the three former Water Authorities in Scotland in response to The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002. Scottish Water has a duty to provide wholesome water for drinking and under the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990, to ensure that in doing so a series of standards for sampling, analytical and reporting systems are met.
Police
Police Forces have a range of responsibilities which overlap with NHS Boards in managing public health incidents. They are responsible for co-ordinating the activities of all of those responding at and around the scene of a major incident. They liase with NHS Boards in providing essential services in protecting the public from exposure to hazards in chemical incidents and other public health emergencies and in ensuring safety measures, which help prevent accidental injury, are in place and being observed.
Fire Service
At declared major incidents involving exposures to hazardous agents, the police will delegate responsibility for the management of all operations within a defined "inner cordon" to the fire service. This includes safety management for all personnel working within the inner cordon. Recovery of exposed individuals from within the inner cordon will normally be the responsibility of the fire service who have the appropriate training and equipment.
Health and Safety Commission and Executive
The Health and Safety Commission is responsible to Government Ministers for implementation of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 throughout Great Britain. The Commission has general oversight of the work of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
HSE's aim is to ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled. Its remit includes people outwith the workplace who may be harmed by the way work is done and, in some situations, the way work affects the environment. HSE develops new health and safety laws and standards, inspects workplaces, investigates accidents and cases of ill health, enforces good standards, publishes guidance and carries out research.
National Radiological Protection Board
The National Radiological Protection Board was created by the Radiological Protection Act 1970.
Its functions are to advance the acquisition of knowledge about the protection of mankind from radiation hazards and to provide information and advice to persons (including Government Departments) with responsibilities in the United Kingdom in relation to the protection from radiation hazards either of the community as a whole or of particular sections of the community
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is the public body responsible for environmental protection in Scotland. It was established under the Environment Act 1995. SEPA's main aim is to provide an efficient and integrated environmental protection system for Scotland, which will both improve the environment and contribute to the Government's goal of sustainable development. SEPA regulates potential pollution of natural waters and the air and the storage, transportation and disposal of controlled waste as well as the keeping of radioactive materials. SEPA provides extensive guidance and advice to regulated organisations and works in partnership with others to deliver environmental goals through non-statutory means.
The Procurator Fiscal Service
Procurators Fiscal are responsible for criminal investigations and any consequent court proceedings as a result of infractions of legislation related to health protection.
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