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 that 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
* Registration of Sunday trading hours for large shops
* Storage and use of pesticides at work and in the home
They can give advice and information to businesses about health and safety. You can also make them aware of health and safety in your workplace or report accidents in offices, shops, warehouses, hotels and buildings used for leisure or public entertainment.
For more information contact our Commercial team working from the Public Protection Division, 11 Houndgate, Darlington DL1 5RF
Telephone 01325 388799
Fax 01325 388555
e-mail public.protection@darlington.gov.uk
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