Health and Safety at Work
Responsibility for the enforcement of health and safety is split between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and District Councils.
Who is responsible for enforcement of Health and Safety?
The HSE deals with factories, building sites, mines and quarries, farms, fairgrounds, railways, chemical plant and offshore and nuclear installations.
Enquiries about factories and industrial workplaces in the North East of England should be made to the Health & Safety Executive.
District Councils deal with shops, warehouses, offices, hotels and catering, sports, leisure, consumer services (eg. launderettes, hairdressers, undertakers, shoe repair, tyre and exhaust (fitters), residential care homes and churches.
Within Darlington it is officers working within the Public Protection Division who are the authorised enforcement officers who visit businesses in connection with health and safety.
Their work includes:
* Carrying out planned inspections
* Giving advice and information about health and safety
* Investigating complaints about health and safety in workplaces
* Investigating workplace accidents
* Registration of cooling towers and evaporative condensers
* Storage and use of pesticides at work and in the home
For advice and information about health and safety you contact our Commercial team through the contact centre Telephone 01325 388799
e-mail customerservices@darlington.gov.uk
ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES
When enforcement officers visit workplaces they assess how employers manage the risk to their employees and others who may be affected by their work activities. To carry this out effectively enforcement officers concentrate on the activities that are known to cause deaths, injury and illness, at work. The priority topics are:
Falls from Height|
Around 75 people a year are killed and more than 5,100 are seriously injured due to falls from height. They are the most common cause of workplace fatalities and second most common cause of major injuries. The main cause of all injuries is falling from ladders.
Workplace Transport|
About 70 people a year are killed in workplace transport accidents and there are around 1500 major injuries. Workplace transport is the second biggest cause of fatal accidents.
Musculoskeletal Disorders|
Approximately 1.1 million people in Britain suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders, around half of which affect the back. An estimated 12.3 million working days per year are lost. Sufferers take an estimated 19.4 days off work per year.
Slips and Trips |
The most common cause of non-fatal major injuries to employees is a slip, trip or fall on the same level – accounting for over a third of all such injuries reported to HSE and local authorities.
Stress|
The most recent survey 2004/5 revealed that in Britain 12.8 million working days are lost each year due to work-related stress.
Concentrating on these priority topics we are looking to achieve the governments target by 2010 to reduce:
- Number of working days lost due to ill health by 30%;
- The incidence of ill health by 20%;
- The incidence of accidents by 10%.
Contact details for HSE and other agencies
Health and Safety Executive
For the area including Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham, Cleveland the office is:
Arden House
Regent Centre
Regent Farm Road
Gosforth
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE NE3 3JN
Tel: 0191 202 6200
(Fax: 0191 202 6300)
HSE Website
Employment Medical Advisory Service (EMAS)
May be contacted via the HSE Office.
Arden House
Regent Centre
Regent Farm Road
Gosforth
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE NE3 3JN
Tel: 0191 202 6200
(Fax: 0191 202 6300)
HSE Books
PO Box 1999
Sudbury
Suffolk
CO10 6FS
Tel: (01787) 881165
Fax: (01787) 313995
Health and Safety Enquiries
a) HSE Infoline (Confidential)
0541 545500
b) HSE Information Centre
Broad Lane
Sheffield
S3 7HQ
Tel: (0114) 289 2345
Fax: (0114) 289 2333
c) HSE Autofax
This allows you to choose from a list of useful leaflets and get copies by fax. Calls are chargeable at the appropriate current rate.
Tel: 0839 060606
Where can I find information about Health and Safety?
The Health and Safety Executive produce a large number of free and priced publications to help employers and employees understand the law. A free catalogue and the publications available are available by mail order from:
HSE Books
PO Box 1999
Suffolk
CO10 6FS
Tel: 01787 881165
Fax: 01787 313995
HSE Books website
You can obtain more information and advice from:
Health and Safety Executive
Information Centre
Broad Lane
Sheffield
S3 7HQ
Tel: 0114 289 2345
Fax: 0114 289 2333
Open: 9.00am to 5.00pm - Monday to Friday
Additionally, can obtain information relating to legislation and guidance notes from the HSE direct website
Miscellaneous/General
British Safety Council
National Safety Centre
Chancellors Road
London
W6 9RS
Tel: 020 8741 1231
Trades Union Congress
Congress House
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3LS
Tel: 0207 636 4030
Confederation of British Industry
Centre Point
103 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1DA
Tel: 020 7379 7400
The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
The Grange
Highfield Drive
Wigston
Leicestershire
LE18 1NN
Tel: (0116) 257 1399
British Standards Institution
389 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 4AL
Tel: 020 8996 9000