FOIA Section 38 Exemption

Section 38: Health And Safety

Section 38 applies to information whose disclosure would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health or the safety of any individual.

Key points:

• The individual concerned does not have to be identifiable: section 36 can apply where there is a group or class of persons, any or all of whom are likely to have their health or safety endangered by disclosure;
• Section 38 is subject to a public interest balance.

Official Guidance

• Updated Ministry of Justice guidance: http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/foi-exemption-s38.pdf
• ICO guidance: http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/freedom_of_information/detailed_specialist_guides/awareness_guidance_19_-_health_and_safety.pdf
• Previous DCA Guidance: http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/guidance/exguide/sec38/index.htm

What the law says

38 Health and safety

(1) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to—

(a) endanger the physical or mental health of any individual, or

(b) endanger the safety of any individual.

(2) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise if, or to the extent that, compliance with section 1(1)(a) would, or would be likely to, have either of the effects mentioned in subsection (1).

ICO Lines To Take

Relevant Lines to Take

LTT180 - The endangerment test under s38 - 26/08/2010 LTT13 - Prejudice test - 05/01/2009

Decision Notices

Many of the ICO and Information Tribunal decision notices relating to this exemption are related to Speed Camera sites and prosecution data. Annual figures can be provided, but not for specific sites.

• Information Tribunal decisions
  • http://www.informationtribunal.gov.uk/Documents/decisions/hemsley_judgment.pdf
  • http://www.informationtribunal.gov.uk/Documents/decisions/Bucks%20Free%20Press%20v%20Information%20Commissioner%20(18%20January%202007).pdf

Complaints upheld / partly upheld (P)

Complaints not upheld

FS50243486 - Home Office - 24/02/2010 FS50231561 - Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service - 15/02/2010 FS50154684 - Department for Culture, Media and Sport - 15/12/2009 FS50173181 - Youth Justice Board for England and Wales - 10/12/2009 FS50227776 - Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service - 07/12/2009 FS50207235 - House of Commons - 24/11/2009 FS50196750 - Olympic Delivery Authority - 22/09/2009 FS50222048 - Chief Constable of Essex Police - 08/09/2009 FS50191587 - Devon and Cornwall Constabulary - 25/08/2009 FS50156552(P) - Thames Valley Police - 20/08/2009 FS50161805 - Ministry of Justice - 28/07/2009 FS50178268 - Ministry of Justice - 28/07/2009 FS50203810(P) - Magherafelt District Council - 19/05/2009 FS50145357 - Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary - 12/05/2009 FS50154349 - Metropolitan Police Service - 20/04/2009 FS50121803(P) - Ministry of Justice - 14/04/2009 FS50160903 - University of Cambridge - 31/03/2009 FS50160904 - King's College London - 31/03/2009 FS50160905 - University College London - 31/03/2009 FS50160909 - Manchester University - 31/03/2009 FS50160902(P) - University of Oxford - 31/03/2009 FS50139215 - Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service - 31/03/2009 FS50073464(P) - South Yorkshire Police - 16/03/2009 FS50123912 - Northumbria Police - 20/01/2009 FS50149375 - Department of Health - 22/12/2008 FS50149373 - Department of Health - 22/12/2008 FS50149374 - Department of Health - 22/12/2008 FS50133140 - BBC - 11/12/2008 FS50106800 - Metropolitan Police Service - 20/08/2008 FS50129974 - Hampshire Constabulary - 13/08/2008 FS50169012 - Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary - 17/07/2008 FS50084359 - Plymouth Primary Care Trust - 05/06/2008 FS50140492 - Home Office - 04/04/2008 FS50099223 - Ministry of Defence - 21/01/2008 FS50108125 - Home Office - 04/07/2007 FS50117048 - Chief Officer South Yorkshire Police - 22/02/2007 FS50066606 - Braintree District Council - 03/01/2007 FS50073128 - House of Commons - 04/09/2006 FS50065043(P) - Metropolitan Ambulance Service - 31/05/2006 FS50069091 - Sussex Police - 26/05/2006 FS50073980 - Ministry of Defence - 19/04/2006

FS50159091 - Her Majesty's Courts Service - 13/08/2009 FS50194251 - University of Oxford - 10/08/2009 FS50125293 - King's College London - 25/09/2008 FS50129683 - Cabinet Office - 29/10/2007 FS50077877 - South Tyneside Council - 01/10/2007 FS50010888 - NHS Direct - 30/07/2007 FS50092069 - Sunderland City Council - 11/06/2007 FS50080115 - Cabinet Office - 26/03/2007 FS50070185 - North Tyneside Council - 20/02/2007 FS50089403 - Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs - 20/12/2006 FS50099068 - Cheshire Constabulary - 11/12/2006 FS50066289 - Gateshead Council - 04/10/2006 FS50064584 - Thames Valley Police - 22/08/2006 FS50098965 - Thames Valley Police - 10/08/2006 FS50072939 - Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency - 12/06/2006 FS50082472 - Home Office - 19/04/2006 FS50066050 - Northampton Police - 24/11/2005 FS50068601 - Essex Constabulary - 03/08/2005 FS50068017 - Hampshire Constabulary - 02/08/2005 FS50067279 - Hampshire Constabulary - 02/08/2005

Includes DNs up to: 26 April 2010

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Exemptions

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