Environment

The Council has a legal duty to enforce the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and any related legislation. We aim to ensure that work premises are safe for both employees and visitors and that accidents are prevented wherever possible.

Enforcement of health and safety legislation is split between local councils and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). There are regulations called the enforcing authority regulations that decide which of the two enforcement bodies enforce in any particular premises. The rules can be quite complicated but the retail and service industries fall to the local council and manufacturing industries fall to the HSE’s responsibility.

Our aims are to:

• Inspect places of work to ensure compliance with health and safety laws, in accordance with government and local priorities
• Carry out an annual programme of inspections to premises which are likely to present the highest hazards and risks to employees and members of the public
• Carry out an annual programme of health and safety inspections to food businesses with particular emphasis on the hazards and risks found in the food trade
• Use educational techniques as well as legal means to achieve compliance
• Register particular premises (e.g. tattooing, ear-piercing, acupuncture and electrolysis)
• Advise other council departments about health and safety at events
• Work with Planning and Building Control Officers to advise on the health and safety implications of new developments
• Advise businesses on health and safety at work. Many of the enquiries that we receive are from business proprietors who require basic information. Often we can provide this over the telephone and/or send out explanatory leaflets.
• Advise workers and employees who are experiencing health and safety problems at work and may need to discuss their situation with someone outside their company. We may be able to provide advice and/or deal with the query as a complaint. If an inspector makes an investigation the complainant’s name is not revealed.
• Work with other interested professionals both locally and nationally
• Although we do not offer the foundation course in health and safety we are able to assist you in finding other training providers who do provide this type of training

Partnership

The Section plays an active role within the Bradford Area Occupational Health and Safety Forum. The Forum provides a network of information and consultation between businesses, public sector organisations, voluntary groups and trade unions.

Leaflets

A large variety of free leaflets on health and safety at work is available from the Section. A full list of the leaflets can be sent on request.

Bradford Area Occupational Health and Safety Forum

http://baohsf.org.uk