HSE/Local Authority
Who Enforces Health and Safety Law?
Enforcement of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and related legislation is shared between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Local Authority (Council).
Health and Safety Executive
As a general guide, HSE is normally the enforcing authority for work activities and premises including:
- factories and other manufacturing, including motor vehicle repair
- chemical plants and refineries
- construction
- railways, tram and underground systems
- mines, quarries and landfill sites
- farms, agriculture and forestry
- hospitals, including nursing homes
- local government, including their offices and facilities run by them
- schools, colleges and universities
- domestic gas installation, maintenance or repair
- utilities, including power generation, water and waste
- fairgrounds (travelling or fixed)
- airports (except terminal buildings, car parks and office buildings)
- police authorities and forces, fire authorities
- Crown bodies including MoD Docks
- nuclear installations
- offshore gas and oil installations and associated activities including pipe-laying barges, and diving support vessels
- onshore major hazards including pipelines, gas transmission and distribution
- transport of dangerous substances by road and rail
- manufacture, transport, handling and security of explosives
Local Authority (in Elmbridge this is Environmental Health & Licensing)
District, borough or city councils and unitary authorities are normally the enforcing authority for certain non-domestic premises including:
- shops and retailing including market stalls, coin-operated launderettes and mobile vendors
- most offices
- some wholesale and retail warehouses
- hotels and other residential catering accommodation including guest houses, residential care homes, hostels, caravan and camping sites
- catering including restaurants, pubs, cafés and wine bars
- leisure and entertainment including night clubs, social clubs, circuses, sports facilities, health clubs, gyms, riding schools, racecourses, pleasure boat hire, motor racing circuits, museums, theatres and art galleries
- places of worship and undertakers
- animal care including zoos, livery stables, kennels and catteries
- beauty and non-medical therapeutic services including massage, saunas, solariums, tattooing, skin and body piercing and hairdressing.
If you are not sure who can help you contact InfoLine on 08701545500 or |Environmental Health & Licensing
See also
- |Who's Who - HSE and Local Authority
- |Is the HSE the correct enforcing authority for my concern?
- |Health & Safety Law Poster information - Employers have until 5 April 2014 to replace old copies of the approved health and safety law poster and leaflet with the new version.
