Businesses

All businesses must be aware of health and safety rules and regulations. This applies not only to ensure the safety of customers entering a businesses premises but also to safeguard the health of those working in the environment.

The following pages are designed for both consumers using businesses, employees and for employers.

Reporting accidents that have taken place in your premises

Accidents should be reported to the RIDDOR site at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

This is required by law and includes any accidents involving the public, contractors, visitors and employees to your business.

Accidents that should be reported include; deaths, major injuries, accidents resulting in three days off work, certain diseases (including Legionella), gas incidents and dangerous occurrences.

If a member of the public needs to be taken to hospital this should also be reported on the RIDDOR website.

Quick links to online forms

Please note as of 6 April 2012 the number of days that a person is left incapacitated after an accident changes from 3 days to 7 days.

From more information please read:

Documents you need to have

If you own, or are part of a business that employs five or more people you should have the following:

Written health and safety policy, displayed for all staff to see
Risk assessments for all job positions
A health and safety training programme that has been completed by all staff
All staff should be aware of safety precautions

A guide on how to write these are available on the HSE website, using the following links below:

How to write a health and safety policy

How to write a risk assessment

Health and Safety law poster

Remember all businesses need to be registered, for more information and details of who to contact visit our licences and permits section.

Health and Safety Guide

You can download a copy of our Health and Safety guide (pdf, Sept 11, 238KB) here to inform you of your responsibilities as a business to both you, your staff and your customers.

How we inspect and enforce

We can either turn up unannounced, as part of a routine inspection or conduct a visit in response to an accident or complaint.

The law states that an inspector can turn up at any reasonable time. There is also an obligation on your part not to be obstructive and to co-operate with us.

We will always carry identification and the paperwork authorising the inspection, of which you should ask to see just to verify we are who we say we are.

To find out more about 'What to expect when a health and safety inspector calls' (pdf, Sept 11, 62KB) please download this guide produced by the HSE.

Training

It is the responsibility of all employers to ensure that their staff are adequately trained to carry out their job safely.

We do not offer training course for employers, however more advice and links to training companies can be found on the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health website.

Register your cooling tower

If you have a cooling tower or an evaporative condenser on your property, you must register it with us.

Asbestos

As a business you have a duty to manage Asbestos. Anyone who:

Owns the building
Are responsible through a contract or tenancy agreement
Controls the building even if there is no formal contract
Is responsible for maintenance or repairs in a multi-occupied building

You can find out more about your responsibilies as a duty holder and what to do if Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) are present here.

Advice topics

We are available to provide health and safety advice and assistance to employers, employees and members of the public across North Somerset.

In many cases our advice is offered in relation to a complaint about a health and safety issue and our response will depend on the information we receive. In all cases we ask that you provide us with as much information as possible to help us solve your problem and provide an answer to your questions.

Some frequent topics of advice requested are: