Dealing with External
Regulatory Bodies
Who carries out inspections?
Health and safety law is enforced by inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or by inspectors
from your local authority. The HSE will normally inspect premises which are high risk and include
construction, manufacturing, haulage and heavy industry, while Local Authorities will inspect premises
which are low risk and typically include offices, retail and leisure industries. You may also encounter
inspections from your local Fire Service or Environment Agency.
Inspectors from the HSE, Local Authorities and the Fire Service have a wide range of powers and have the
right to enter your workplace without giving notice at any reasonable time. Visits from enforcing
authorities are either planned as part of their inspection regime, as
a result of an employee accident which has been notified under
RIDDOR, complaints by employees or members of the public, or
part of their enforcement campaigns. It is imperative that you are
prepared at all times for any unannounced visits by enforcing
authorities.
What happens during an inspection?
On a normal inspection visit an inspector would expect to look at the workplace, the work activities, your
management of health and safety, and to check that you are complying with the relevant health and safety
law. The inspector may offer guidance or advice to help you. They may also talk to employees and their
representatives, take photographs and samples, serve improvement notices and take action if there is a risk
to health and safety which needs to be dealt with immediately.
To discuss solutions
for your businesses
health and safety
needs contact us on
01296 678440
or email
info@alcumusgroup.com
During a normal routine inspection, the inspector will normally wish to examine certain statutory
documents, talk to you about how you manage health and safety and carry out a workplace inspection in
order to verify what you say is actually happening in the workplace as well as ensuring you are complying
with health and safety legislation.
Prior to the inspection or visit taking place, the inspector will have identified key areas which are relevant
to your business and are based on risk. This will normally include high risk activities, such as:
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Work at height, including ladder safety
Transport safety
Manual handling
Slips and trips
Machinery safety and guarding
Risk from asbestos
In addition to the above topic areas and any other specific areas relative to your business the inspector will
also concentrate on how you manage the risk within the business including:
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Access to competent advice
Health and safety responsibilities, duties, policy, procedures and guidance
Consultation and communication with employees on health and safety
Training records and information provided to employees
Risk assessments and safe systems of work
How you maintain premises, plant and equipment including service records
Safe place of work, environment and provision of adequate welfare facilities
In addition to routine inspection, enforcing authorities may undertake planned campaigns which target
specific industries and focus on certain topic areas, these may include:
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To discuss solutions
for your businesses
health and safety
needs contact us on
01296 678440
or email
info@alcumusgroup.com
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Asbestos “The Hidden Killer” a duty manage risk from exposure to asbestos
Falls from vehicles
Falls from height and ladder sfety
Hand arm vibration
Slips and trips
Manual handling
Worker involvement/safe and sound advice
Gas safety and maintenance of gas appliances
What can you do to ensure compliance?
Due to the varying nature of the enforcing authorities work including planned inspections, campaigns and
accident investigations it is necessary to be prepared and more importantly to project an image of
confidence to the inspector. This will also help in reducing any potential cost as a result of enforcement
action being taken should the inspector identify any material breach of health and safety law.
Since the introduction of “Fees for Intervention” by the HSE, if an inspector from the HSE identifies any
material breach and has cause to write to you then they will charge you for the privilege at a cost of £124
per hour. This includes any time spent identifying the breach as well as any administration time. Therefore
we would recommend that all the necessary documentation which may be required is held in one place
and senior managers are aware on how to access this information. We would recommend that you set up
your systems based on compliance folders which include:
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Statutory Documents (Thorough Examination and Lifting Certificates, Driving Licenses)
Health and Safety Policy including duties and responsibilities (ensure it is up to date)
Service Records (Gas, Electric, Fire Alarms, Pressure Systems, Fork Lift Trucks)
Inspection and maintenance records both internal and external.
Staff Training Records, Fire Marshals, First Aid, Health and Safety Courses
Risk Assessments (including manual handling, DSE and COSHH assessments, fire risk assessment)
Safe Systems of Work and Method Statements
Safety Checklist / Tours / Workplace inspections
Health and Safety Minutes from Meetings
Arrangements for communicating health and safety to employees
What can we do to help?
To discuss solutions
for your businesses
health and safety
needs contact us on
We offer a variety of services that can help companies meet their health and safety obligations, whatever
their size, by providing a range of health and safety packages or one off services to meet specific needs as
well as consultancy services and health and safety law advice.
01296 678440
or email
info@alcumusgroup.com
Midshires House, Midshires Business Centre, Smeaton Close, Aylesbury,
Bucks, HP19 8HL
T: 01296 678440 E: info@alcumusgroup.com www.alcumusgroup.com