One of the best kept secrets in the Peak District - and British science - is celebrating its 100^th birthday.

Employment Minister, Chris Grayling and local High Peak MP Andrew Bingham joined key figures from across the science and industrial community on Friday (1 July) for a tour of the  Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), which explores the 'science of safety' from a remote hillside location just outside Buxton.

Originally founded by Winston Churchill to carry out coal dust experiments, HSL, now an agency of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is world-renowned for its wide range of scientific disciplines and technical expertise.

HSL has assisted investigations into high profile incidents such as the explosion at the Buncefield oil storage depot - the largest event of its type in Europe since the Second World War, and the Potters Bar rail crash.

It has also contributed to significant changes that impact on our lives, such as the phasing out of wooden escalators on the London Underground following the Kings Cross fire in 1987 and the introduction of all-seater football stadiums after research into crash barriers and crowd density following the Hillsborough disaster.

As part of the celebrations a time capsule, intended to be unearthed in another 100 years time, is to be buried containing, amongst other items, significant research reports, award winning scientific papers and a letter from the current CEO to HSL's Chief Executive in 2111.

HSL Chief Executive, Eddie Morland commented:

"To a lot of our neighbours, HSL is probably still only known as the strange facility on the hill from which a manner of mysterious sights and sounds emanate. Few people realise that we are the home of cutting edge science and research of international significance.

"We have evolved beyond almost all recognition in the last 100 years. In 1911 we were focused on a single problem in a single industry - today we are helping to prevent catastrophes in a multitude of high hazard industries, as well as reducing death, injury and ill health across almost every other industrial sector in Britain.

"We're looking forward now to the next 100 years. While the world of work will certainly change over the next century, the need to ensure safety will not."

Added Employment Minister, Chris Grayling:-

"The Health and Safety Laboratory is a world class facility, which over the past 100 years has been able to adapt to ever-changing health and safety concerns and continues to ensure that more people are able to go home safe at the end of their working day.

"It tackles some of the most difficult and dangerous health and safety issues and I want this work to continue for another 100 years.

"We are working to restore common sense to health and safety and I am encouraged by the laboratory's real focus on business and industry and its emphasis on practical solutions, which support future technology, not restricting it, and enable Britain to work better."