The Directorate of Safety & Claims (DS&C) is concerned with Safety and Environmental protection policy, audit and assurance related to: nuclear accident response, radiological protection and radioactive waste, occupational health services, environmental pollution, sustainable development and all aspects of occupational safety and the management of all claims.

This internet site supercedes the former Directorate of Safety, Environment & Fire Policy (D SEF Pol) internet site.

DESB

The Defence Environment and Safety Board (DESB) provides direction, sets objectives, monitors, reviews and reports on progress. It is chaired by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and draws its membership not only from policy and support areas but also from those responsible for implementation.

Audit Team

The DS&C Audit Team is responsible for undertaking management systems and risk-based audits at TLB (third line budget) level throughout MOD and across the Trading Fund Agencies, together with functional audits and studies that examine discrete subject areas of safety and environmental protection. The purpose is to assure the Secretary of State that his policy is being complied with and that risks to business outputs are being adequately managed.

Claims

DS&C Claims is responsible for handling common law compensation claims by and against the MOD at home and overseas. It is not responsible for contractual, quasi-contractual, sales or estate matters. DS&C Claims also provides policy advice on: handling Service personnel employment tribunal claims; insurance and indemnities; MOUs and handles claims against foreign forces based in the UK.

Environment Team

The Environment team is responsible for the development and promulgation of environmental policy throughout MOD and setting the strategic policy direction for sustainable development.

Our aim is to ensure that the MOD uses the Sustainable Development agenda to support core business objectives and enhance performance. MOD seeks to achieve this by setting, maintaining and improving, and promoting the Department as an exemplar of, high standards of sustainability and environmental protection.
Team Output: JSP 418 [PDF 2.5MB] JSP 418 (Individual Chapters)

Health Physics Team

The DS&C Health Physics Team is the MOD focus for radiation protection policy issues.

They actively:

• develop and monitor radiation protection policy within the MOD in the light of national and international legislation and standards
• represent MOD's interests to government departments and their agencies on issues of radiation protection

The topics covered include: protection of personnel and the environment from ionising and non‑ionising radiation; radioactive waste strategy; counselling and compensation of former MOD radiation workers.

General information about the nature of radiation and its hazards can be found on the web site of the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency at http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/

Nuclear Accident Response Team

To maintain and develop central MOD policy for the provision of an effective Defence Nuclear Accident Response Organisation (NARO). This includes maintaining a capability to discharge HQ and Lead Government Department functions in the event of a defence nuclear accident.

Occupational Health & Safety Team

• Development MOD Policy for health and safety matters with the exception of Explosives, Radiation and Fire.
• Editor of the MOD Health and Safety Handbook. The Section also covers environmental noise pollution matters.
• The section has a complement of 6 staff and is headed by an Assistant Director, with two individual staff specialising in Occupational Hygiene, and Noise.
• Management of the MOD Civilian Occupational Health Contract, which is delivered by BMIHS Ltd, and oversees the MOD Accident database.
• The Occupational Hygienist covers policy for hazardous substances, stress, smoking, and work related limb disorders.
• The Noise post covers policy on environmental noise pollution and occupational noise issues.
• The Section consult with the sections of the MOD that have the role of implementing health and safety to provide a consolidated reply to the Health and Safety Executive on proposed new legislation.
• Health and Safety Duties for the Defence Estate. This Policy is published under the authority of the Defence Environment and Safety Board Policy and Management Committee, and outlines the actions needed to be taken by MOD Managers who have health and safety duties associated with the construction, use and maintenance of the Defence Estate.

Section Outputs

The MOD Health and Safety Handbook - JSP 375 [Index]

The MOD Accident Recording Procedures - JSP 442 [PDF 725kB)

Additional Guidance

Health and Safety Duties for the Defence Estate [PDF 62kB]

Risk Team

The role of the DS&C Risk Team is to:

• gather intelligence from the outputs of internal and external monitoring and review, the lessons, experiences and practices of others within and outside MOD and the UK, and from research;
• apply experience and understanding to the intelligence gathered, identifying the lessons to be learned, be they E, H and S risks and risk indicators, best practices, benchmarking techniques or new standards; and
• actively share that corporate knowledge, understanding and benchmarking to enable MOD risk owners and risk advisers to improve the management of E,H&S risks.

Secretary of State's Policy Statement on Health, Safety & Environmental Protection is on the DESB page

If any information on this internet site is incorrect or links do not work, please contact:

DS&C Information Site Manager

If you would like to provide any feedback on information on this internet site, please contact:

DS&C Communications Officer

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Last Updated: 14 Nov 05