Statement of administrative sources
Background
Official statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive are based on two main sources - data gathered from statistical surveys, and data extracted from administrative or management systems.
By using data which is already available within administrative or management systems, rather than collecting data afresh, we are able to limit the overall burden placed on data providers, and also minimise data collection costs. In addition, the information we extract from such systems often has the advantage of being more timely than statistical data and, when compared with data from surveys (and particularly sample surveys), can also deliver data with a greater breadth of coverage.
The UK Statistics Authority actively encourages public bodies to exploit administrative and management sources for statistical purposes. However the Authority recognises that the statistical advantages of such arrangements can only be fully realised if statisticians have appropriate access to such systems; if statistical purposes are reflected in the design, management, and development of such systems; and if adequate safeguards are put in place to ensure the professional integrity of any official statistics derived from them.
The Authority's main requirements are set out in the third Protocol attached to their Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Amongst other things, this Protocol requires all producers of official statistics to publish, in consultation with the National Statistician, a 'Statement of Administrative Sources' which lists:
- the administrative systems they currently use to produce official statistics;
- information about other administrative sources that are not currently used for statistical purposes but which have the potential to be so used;.
- the arrangements they have put in place to provide statistical staff with appropriate access to such sources; to take account of changes to such systems; to audit the quality of the administrative data used for statistical purposes; and to ensure the security of the resultant statistical processes.
The following tables describe the administrative/management sources which the Health and Safety Executive currently uses to produce official statistics, or which have the potential to be so used, differentiating between:
- those sources which are owned and managed by ourselves;
- those administered or managed by other organisations.
1. Statistical usage of our own organisation's administrative or management sources
| Name/Title of Administrative Data Source | Name of overarching Administrative System | Main administrative purpose of this source/system | Geospatial Coverage | Title(s) of all Statistical Products derived from this Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported injuries, Dangerous Occurrences and Gas-related incidents | The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) | To record reports from employers of injuries, certain diseases and dangerous occurrences as required by the RIDDOR regulations | GB; England; Scotland; Wales; Region; Local authority | Reported injuries; Dangerous Occurrences; Gas-related incidents |
| Blood Lead levels | CLAWD (Control of Lead At Work) | Collection and storage of annual blood lead data collected by Appointed Doctors from workers as required by the CLAW directive | Great Britain | Medical Surveillance of Blood Lead Levels in British Workers |
| Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) reports | Electrical Incidents Database (EID) | To collect statutory reports from electricity suppliers in respect of the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) | Great Britain | Safety-related incidents reported under ESQCR |
2. Statistical usage of other organisations' administrative or management sources
| Name/Title of Administrative Data Source | Name of overarching Administrative System | Name of Organisation responsible for this system/source | Main administrative purpose of this system/source | Geospatial Coverage | Title(s) of all Statistical Products derived from this Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) | IIDB | Department for Work and Pensions | To manage and pay IIDB | GB; England; Scotland; Wales; Region; | Number of IIDB claimants by prescribed industrial disease |
| Death certificates | Death certificates | Office for National Statistics (England and Wales); National Records of Scotland |
To record deaths of British citizens | GB; England; Scotland; Wales; Region; Local authority |
Annual deaths from Mesothelioma; Annual deaths from Asbestosis |
3. Other administrative sources in HSE with the potential to be used for statistical purposes
| Name/Title of Administrative Data Source | Name of overarching Administrative System | Main administrative purpose of this system/source | Geospatial Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrocarbon release data | HCR | To provide voluntary information on Hydrocarbon releases in the offshore industry which supplements the statutory data provided under the RIDDOR regulation | Offshore operators, GB |
| Notification of new construction projects (F10) | COIN | To alert HSE to new construction projects which are underway and are expected to last more than 30 days or involve more than 500 man hours | GB |
| Medical surveillance /biological monitoring data | To monitor compliance with specified Health and Safety legislation in certain industries or for particular at risk workers. | GB (HSE-enforced premises only) | |
| Central Index of Dosimetric Information | CIDI | To monitor compliance with regulation 20 of the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 | GB (classified workers only) |
| Health and Safety Inspection activity | COIN | To record HSE inspector contact with duty holders | GB; England; Scotland; Wales; Region; Local authority (HSE-enforced industries only) |
4. Detailed information about the Health and Safety Executive's governance arrangements for its own administrative or management sources
4.1 RIDDOR
Arrangements for providing statistical staff (whether inside or outside the organisation) with access to administrative or management sources for statistical purposes |
The RIDDOR notification system used by employers enables reporting to be made online. HSE's Statistics branch take regular downloads of the operational data at the individual record level. This data is then securely transferred into SQL, SPSS and .csv copies of the datasets for statistical analysis. |
Arrangements for auditing the quality of the original source data |
Agreed data quality standards are in place and monitored by HSE. Further quality assurance is undertaken by HSE Statistics branch on a quarterly and annual basis, with any Data Quality compliance issues highlighted for review and action. If data errors occur and are detected, where feasible these are corrected in the 'statistical copy' of the data, with the original dataset remaining unchanged. Further detail is available via the National Archives. |
Procedures for handling changes, and possible discontinuities, in the underlying source data |
At first release, RIDDOR data are marked as provisional. The following year, data are finalised and no further revisions made (unless there is a methodological improvement or errors are found). Data for the previous ‘provisional’ year are marked as ‘revised.’ If a system or reporting/legal change occurs, we endeavour to estimate the effect of any discontinuity in our headline data series and produce a consistent back-series. If it is not possible or practical to adjust the series, a discontinuity line is presented in charts and tables and appropriate footnotes supplied. |
Procedures for ensuring the security of the statistical processes which use administrative or management sources |
All data is stored on password-protected, Government Secure networks. |
4.2 Blood Lead (CLAWD)
Arrangements for providing statistical staff (whether inside or outside the organisation) with access to administrative or management sources for statistical purposes |
Statisticians and supporting staff have access to the Appointed Doctors Database and the custom built Control of Lead at Work Database (CLAWD) where the doctor returns are stored. |
Arrangements for auditing the quality of the original source data |
In built validity checks in CLAWD are run automatically. A statistician supervises data entry. Queries are resolved internally or via clarification from the doctor. |
Procedures for handling changes, and possible discontinuities, in the underlying source data |
Changes in published statistics (if any) are noted in the following year's release and further details are recorded in-house and stored with the blood lead forms. Data is analysed annually on returns received and validated. |
Procedures for ensuring the security of the statistical processes which use administrative or management sources |
All data and outputs are stored on a password protected network |