Health and safety at work - Regulation

Along with the Health and Safety Executive, Broxbourne Borough Council's commercial team is responsible for making sure that the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and its associated regulations are known and followed by employers and their employees. To do this we perform a number of duties:

  • conducting health and safety inspections
  • providing advice and guidance
  • responding to service requests
  • accepting and logging statutory reports such as accident reports and lift notifications undertaking accident investigations
  • running campaigns to raise public awareness of important issues 
  • sampling of recreational water including spa pools and swimming pools

Which businesses do we have responsibility for?

Generally speaking, the health and safety team are responsible for the following sectors:

  • offices
  • retail - including shops, hairdressers, builders merchants
  • leisure - including cinema, theatres, art galleries, museums, clubs, gyms, and swimming pools
  • hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation
  • supermarkets, food shops restaurants and pubs.

Businesses not enforced by the Borough of Broxbourne

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are responsible for the following sectors: construction sites; factories; schools and universities; premises owned/ run by local authorities, doctors' surgeries and hospitals; residential accommodation; central government buildings, railways and the underground.

 

Section 18(4) of Health and safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires local authorities to make adequate arrangements and to perform their duties for the enforcement of health and safety legislation in accordance with guidance from the Health and Safety Commission.

 

The standard recognises that "partnership is the way HSE and LAs do business" and reflects the following Statement of Intent agreed between the HSC, HSE and LA representative bodies:

 

"LAs and HSE, working jointly and in partnership locally, regionally and nationally, to a common set of goals and standards, committed to focusing resources on agreed health and safety priorities. The aim is to minimise harm to those in the workplace or those affected by workplace activities, and contribute to the health and safety and well-being of the local community"

 

A copy of the Commercial Law Enforcement Service Plan is currently under review.

 

If your have any queries please email envhealth@broxbourne.gov.uk or telephone 01992 785511