Is the Health and Safety Executive a rogue employer?

It's no lie that I enjoying having a pop at the Health and Safety rules and its Executive. Whether it's because they're ebaying spandex outfits for fake rock bands, protecting us all from dermatitis, or stopping a flag flying I just can't help commenting on it. I think its probably due to the Health and Safety fascists that have contorted me into awkward positions at my work desk for fear that I might sue the company if I get a bad back.

Imagine my pleasure then when I discovered how much money the HSE has paid out in health and safety compensation claims for injuries etc to its own staff and the public. As it happens I actually mused about the possibility of the HSE suing itself the other day, and some written answers have shown just how often it seems to happens (did I inspire the question I wonder? (ego alert)).

Anyway, enough of my rambling, I'll cut to the chase. It appears that the HSE pays out quite a lot of compensation claims for personal injuries each year to its staff. In fact, to date this year it's managed to pay out £16,215 to just three of its employees. Over the past four years they've actually had to pay out £54,288.65 to 13 employees in compensation.

It does get better though - and I don't deny I'm crowing now - but in 2004-05 the HSE apparently paid out just over £246,000 to two members of public in a compensation claim for personal injuries. Whatever did they do?

I don't know about you, but the Health and Safety Executive sound like rogue employers to me. Compare their size and record to an equivalent private corporation. Who inspects the inspectors?