Health and safety at work - regulation and inspection - Print version

We perform a wide range of duties designed to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of people who work and visit places of work within our city. The primary piece of legislation applied to this area is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and we enforce legal standards in a wide variety of workplaces, which range from shops, offices and leisure centres to hotels, warehouses and residential homes.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) [http://www.hse.gov.uk/] based in Birmingham, deals with factories.

Cooling towers

All premises where cooling towers and evaporative condensers are situated must register with the local authority under the Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992. View the online cooling tower register [http://licensing.coventry.gov.uk/MVM/Online/EGov/License_Registers/Registers_Criteria.aspx].

Information and advice

The council is committed to working together with proprietors and managers to achieve high standards and prevent problems. We are always willing to give advice on legislation, or practical problems, so if you are considering setting up a business [/info/18/health_and_safety_at_work/2197/health_and_safety_for_new_businesses], or wish to discuss anything in relation to your existing premises [/info/18/health_and_safety_at_work/2198/health_and_safety_advice], please contact us.

The role of the Health and Safety team

We perform a wide range of duties designed to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of people who work and visit places of work within our city, including inspections on work-related accidents.

Our main areas of activity are:

• Inspecting places of work
• Investigating accidents
• Dealing with complaints about health, safety and welfare
• Promoting safety at work
• Advising local businesses
• Smoking policies at work

All these premises are monitored and inspected in accordance with a national risk rating scheme - the riskier the activities, the more often they will be inspected. Many low risk activities, like small offices, may only receive occasional visits or self-assessment questionnaires.

The inspections are carried out by and large without appointment so that inspectors can get a true picture of what happens on a day-to-day basis.

Inspections

During an inspection, officers will need to be satisfied that any hazards to people's health, safety and welfare, which arise out of or in connection with work have been identified and the associated risks adequately controlled. They will look at the level of health and safety training of managers and employees to ensure that it is suitable. Checks will also be made on the adequacy of structural and environmental conditions and that plant and equipment are safe.

Where work practices or conditions fall short of what is regarded as satisfactory every attempt will be made to resolve the situation by informal means, but if this is not possible, or if the danger posed gives rise to a risk of serious personal injury, then officers will resort to formal action. This could involve either the service of a legal notice, prosecution, or in situations where serious personal injury could arise, a prohibition notice requiring immediate action.

To request an inspection please contact us.

Work-related accidents

We deal with:

• Inspections of business premises such as offices, shops and warehouses to ensure conditions are satisfactory and safe.
• Investigation of accidents at work which involve either staff or the general public.
• Investigation of complaints relating to health and safety.

We also provide information to businesses and members of the public to increase general awareness of health and safety.

We do not deal with:

• Council buildings and employees, manufacturing or construction industries - these are dealt with by the Health and Safety Executive. You can find more information on the Health and Safety Executive website [http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm]
• Health and safety in food premises industry - this is dealt with by our Food Safety Team [/food] (except in food manufacturing, which is dealt with by the Health and Safety Executive).

Investigating complaints from employees

Everyone is entitled to work in a workplace that is free from risks to health and safety, or where risks have been controlled by using safe systems of work. Employees should also be trained and/or supervised to minimise risks.

Additionally, you are entitled to expect basic welfare facilities at your place of work and opportunity to use them.

Each year, numbers of employees contact us to complain about a safety or welfare issue at their place of work. All complaints are dealt with confidentially and no names are released without the permission of the complainant. Inspectors will make unannounced visits and carry out inspections to identify the issues complained of. Where appropriate, action will be taken to ensure safety at work.

Reporting and investigation of accidents, dangerous occurrences and diseases at work

The law requires employers to report certain types of work-related accidents, diseases or dangerous occurrences. Officers will investigate the most serious of these incidents to establish if health and safety law has been broken and also with the aim of preventing similar accidents from occurring.

Accidents in shops, catering premises, warehouses, residential premises and leisure premises in Coventry should be reported to us. If you have an accident at work, which is reportable under the RIDDOR [http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/reportable-incidents.htm] requirements, it is your employer's responsibility to report it. Going to your solicitor may still be a good idea, but getting the accident promptly and properly investigated is much more important. If you feel that your employer has failed to report an accident to us, please contact us. [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/directory_record/29364/health_and_safety_in_the_workplace_complaint/category/162/tell_us]

Accidents in factories or construction sites can also be reported to the Health and Safety Executive [http://www.hse.gov.uk/].

Employers can report accidents, incidents or near misses online [http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm].