Health and Safety in the British Regulatory State, 1961-2001: the Health and Safety Commission, Health and Safety Executive and the Management of Occupational Risk in Britain

This oral history project forms part of a doctoral thesis exploring the historical development of the British system of occupational health and safety regulation. Engaging with recent historical scholarship on occupational health and safety, the thesis explores the social, cultural, political and economic conditions that shaped the development of the British system of occupational health and safety regulation between 1961 and 2001, including the origins and work of two regulatory bodies: the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE). To understand the factors that contributed to key policy decisions in health and safety regulation, including new regulations, voluntary standards, and codes of practice, the grant holder/principal investigator interviewed eight senior former members of the HSC and HSE, including trade union and employer representatives. All contributors provided consent for their interviews to be audio recorded and made accessible in a public archive. The oral history component of the doctoral research project received ethical approval from the LSHTM Observational Research Ethics Committee.

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