The Public Protection Team perform a variety of duties with regard to the enforcement of Health and Safety at Work legislation, including:
- inspections of commercial premises
- accident investigation in commercial premises
- advice to businesses, employees and the public
- health and safety complaints investigations
- enforcement of petroleum licence requirements
- enforcing regulations to protect employees and customers alike.
Council Officers carry out health and safety enforcement in a variety of commercial premises including shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels and residential care homes, offices and retail and wholesale warehousing.
The Health and Safety Executive carry out enforcement in premises such as factories, dockside activities, major hazard installations and work activity on the highway.
Enforcement Approach
Enforcement is based on the principles that regulatory activities should be carried out in a way which is transparent, accountable, proportionate and consistent, and should be targeted only at cases in which action is needed. The overall approach, including enforcement options, is set out in our "Enforcement Policy". (See Downloads, below)
Comments on our Enforcement Policy are welcome. They can be made either in writing to the Head of Public Protection at the address below, or by email using the customer requests link on this page.
Other sources of Information
For comprehensive information and guidance about health, safety and welfare at work visit the Health and Safety Executive's website.