Health and Safety at Work - Regulation and Inspection
Health and safety at work legislation is designed to protect the
employer, self-employed, employees, contractors, customers and
visitors to the Ryedale District from any dangers arising out
of a work activity.
The Council is responsible for the enforcement of health
and safety legislation in certain business premises. Examples
include; offices, shops, retail and wholesale distribution outlets,
hotels, restaurants, residential care homes and various places used
for leisure activities such as holiday parks.
The Health and Safety Executive
(HSE)
enforces the legislation
in industry (factories, farms, manufacturing premises and
building sites).
What happens during an inspection?
The inspection of premises is carried out on a routine
basis, in accordance with their risk rating and/or topic
inspection programme focussing on priority work activities or
significant hazards, usually without prior notification.
Inspections will primarily concentrate on how businesses
manage risks from those activities most likely to kill, injure
and/or make people ill at work (priority topics). These include
falls from height, workplace transport, slips and trips,
musculoskeletal disorders and workplace stress.
During inspections officers will assess whether a business has
adequately addressed hazards arising out of, or in connection with
the work activities and whether measures to control the associated
risks have been implemented. They will also look at the level of
health and safety training of managers and staff to ensure
that it is adequate.
Inspectors may offer you guidance or advice to help you comply
with the law.
For more information regarding priority topic activities and
hazards please use the link on the right.
What happens if my premises is below
standards?
Where conditions or work practices fall short of what is regarded
as satisfactory, we will attempt to resolve the situation
informally, if this is not possible, or if the danger is of
high-risk to personal injury, then formal action will be taken
either in the form of a legal notice, prosecution, or prohibition
notice.
Complaint and accident investigation
Complaints about working conditions and accidents at work are
always investigated confidentially. These are usually resolved by
providing advice to employers, but formal action will be taken if
necessary.
Asbestos - Duty to Manage
The management of asbestos is presently a key priority in the
reduction of work-related disease and this is another area likely
to be addressed during inspections. It is estimated that 500,000
industrial, commercial and public buildings across the country
still have asbestos in them. In many cases there is no effective
management of the thousands of tonnes of asbestos still present in
buildings and those working there, particularly plumbers,
electricians and other maintenance workers are often completely
unaware that they are at risk from disturbing asbestos. Unless
steps are taken to deal with this problem, HSE estimates that
nearly 5,000 building and maintenance workers will die as a direct
consequence of exposure to asbestos in buildings over the next 50
years.
This duty to manage asbestos is designed to protect these
workers. It requires those who have responsibilities for
maintenance activities in non-domestic premises to asses whether
these is any asbestos in their premises, and, depending on its
condition, either remove it or manage it - making sure that
maintenance or other activities carried out subsequently do not
expose the workers to any avoidable risk.They must ensure that
information on the location and condition of these materials is
given to anyone likely to disturb them.
Please follow the link on the right on how to
dispose of asbestos safely.