Health and Safety at work: regulation and inspection
Details
The Health and Safety Commission is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive and local government are the enforcing authorities who work in support of the Commission.The principal statute regulating standards of health and safety at work is the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 (the 1974 Act). Numerous subordinate statutory instruments provide detailed specialist regulatory measures. The 1974 Act places a statutory duty on local authorities to enforce the relevant statutory instruments in relation to classes of business determined from time to time and defined by statutory instrument. The Enforcing Authority Regulations 1998 define the classes of activity which come under local authority enforcement and those which fall to enforcement by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) oversees the enforcement of health and safety measures across the UK and advises government on policy issues.
The aim of the Occupational Health and Safety Enforcement Service within Aberdeen City Council is to contribute to the maintenance and improvement of standards of occupational health and safety arising from work activities in the city, with a consequential reduction of the risks associated with those work activities. Information is available in the Health & Safety Enforcement Policy.
Statutory duties for safe system of work controls apply to both employees and to the public who may be affected by work activities (for example customers and passers by).
As an Enforcing Authority, the authority has a responsibility for the provision of health and safety enforcement services covering a range of businesses, mainly within the service sector, covering approximately 3,900 premises. The types of businesses involved in health and safety enforcement include the following:
- retail
- wholesale
- offices
- catering
- hotels
- residential care homes
- leisure and consumer services eg. launderettes, hairdressers, undertakers, shoe repair, tyre and exhaust fitters and churches.
The principal responsibility is the inspection and audit of these premises, however there is also a responsibility to investigate complaints relating to safety, occupational health and welfare at these workplaces, and any reported accidents arising in the course of work activities at these premises.
The service also receives notifications of work involving asbestos in terms of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.
New legislation in place from the 1st April 2006 is The Civic Government [Scotland] Act 1982 [Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing] Order 2006, which requires the following activities, carried out as a business, to be licensed with the local authority:
- Acupuncture
- Cosmetic body piercing
- Electrolysis
- Tattooing
The Health and Safety Executive website gives useful information including industry guidance, free leaflets and research reports on health and safety.
Contact(s)
- Ivor Churcher
Health and safety at work-regulation and inspection
Phone: 01224 523800
Fax: 01224 523887
Email: commercial@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Senior Environmental Health Officer
Commercial Section
Neighbourhood Services Central
Aberdeen City Council
4th Floor, St. Nicholas House
Broad Street
Aberdeen AB10 1BX
Frequently Asked Question(s)
- As an employee, if I believe there is an unsafe condition or practice at work, should I report it and how do I report it?
- Do I need a licence to set up a business?
- Do I need to have employer's liability compulsory insurance?
- Do you provide Health and Safety training?
- How can I get advice on how to comply with health and safety law?
- How frequently are business premises inspected for health and safety?
- How frequently are workplaces inspected?
- How is the frequency of business premises health and safety inspections calculated?
- How often do commercial premises have to be have health and safety inspections?
- I am an employee. I am not happy about safety at my workplace, who do I complain to?
- I am concerned that where I work is not safe. Who do I report this to?
- I am self employed, does the Health and Safety law still apply to me?
- I wish to open a food business. Is there any advice available?
- If a health and safety enforcement officer finds problems at my business, will I be prosecuted?
- If I make a complaint about my workplace, will the enforcement officer tell my boss who complained?
- If I make a complaint about safety in my workplace, will the enforcement officer tell my boss who complained?
- If it’s not convenient for a health and safety inspection to take place, can I tell the enforcement officer?
- Improving the working environment?
- In terms of Health and Safety, what is risk assessment?
- Is there a maximum working temperature in an office?
- Is there a minimum temperature for my office?
- My business has reported an accident, will an officer visit to investigate?
- There are only 5 people in our firm, does the Health and Safety Law still apply to us?
- What are the duties of employees?
- What can you do to manage the Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1992)?
- What is a health and safety policy and when is it required?
- What types of accidents should I report and how do I do this?
- Where can I obtain detailed advice/information on health and safety at work?
- Which are the most common work-related illnesses?
- Why can't I take more than one child swimming on my own?
- Why do employers need to comply with health and safety regulations?
- Why should employers involve occupational health professionals in preventing the development of ill health?
- Will I be contacted before an inspection?
