1. Review business information e.g. ownership/ contact details;
2. Physical inspection;
3. Review of relevant records (see list below)
On average, inspections will last between 1-2 hours. The length of time is dependant on the size and complexity of the business. Officers have the legal right to enter premises at all reasonable times. A leaflet explaining the powers and role of Health and Safety Inspectors is available:
Download
During the inspection, officers will focus primarily on key areas that are known to cause the majority of accidents in workplaces. These are;
- Working at height
- Slips and Trips
- Workplace Transport
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Stress
Officers will also ask to see all relevant paperwork such as:
- Health & Safety Policy
- Risk Assessments
- Records of Inspection and Maintenance for the Workplace/Work Equipment
- Training Records
- Accident Book
For further information and guidance on how to complete risk assessments, please visit the Health and Safety Executive website
At the time of the inspection a report of visit will be left with employees on site with a copy forwarded onto the companies head office (as appropriate).
After the Inspection
If no contraventions of legislation are found a letter will be sent within 10 working days to reflect the satisfactory conditions.
Where contraventions of health and safety legislation are found officers will bring these matters to the attention of the person seen at the time of the inspection and speak to the employer if the employer was not present during the inspection.
Officers will then decide on the most appropriate course of action:
- Send a letter;
- Issue an Improvement Notice;
- Issue an Prohibition Notice;
- Issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (smoke free legislation only)
- Instigate legal proceedings
In deciding which course of action to take Officers will refer to the Health and Safety Sections Enforcement Policy.
Download:
Smoke free enforcement policy (Smoke-free-enforcement-policy.pdf - 121.84k)Last modified: 11/02/2008 09:45:25
A graduated enforcement response will be taken in the majority of cases to give employers every opportunity to remedy contraventions. Formal action will usually only be taken as a last resort. Officers are happy to discuss contraventions and possible remedial action.
Each premises is given a risk rating which reflects the risk of the business activity and the current standard of health and safety management. The score from the risk rating determines how often a premises will be inspected. Further information on the risk rating procedure is available from:
Website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/67-2.htm
