What is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)?

Most people have heard of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), sometimes regarded as regulatory villains by businesses who don’t understand why they exist and why there are rules to follow regarding health and safety in the workplace. So, who are they really, and what do they do?

The HSE is the UK’s regulatory body, looking after health and safety in the workplace in order to prevent, or mitigate, serious injuries, or deaths, in our places of work. The idea of an enforcing body in the workplace can be traced back to the 1830s when Britain was in the throes of the Industrial Revolution, but the HSE as an entity did not fully materialise until January 1975. You can see more of the history behind the formation of the HSE on their website.

The HSE has the power to enforce regulations, stopping dangerous operations in the workplace until they are corrected and seek to prosecute breaches of legislation where necessary. You can think of the HSE almost like a police force but with the power to enter your place of work unannounced and investigate potential breaches without a warrant.
But they don’t simply enforce regulations, they actively work to ensure the workforce is adequately protected as technologies change and develop.

They are here to help keep every worker in the UK safe from harm – they are not the enemy, and the rules on health and safety are not put in place to be avoided, bent, or disregarded.

How do I stay on the right side of the HSE?

All companies in the UK need to understand the health and safety legislation which is applicable to their business and ensure that it is adhered to. The HSE provides extensive information, health and safety guidance documents, and approved codes of practice on complying with legislation for a wide range of hazardous activities that businesses may encounter through their operations. These are communicated to businesses via their website, as well as through books and training events.
The easiest place to start for a company setting up their health and safety management system is the health and safety made a simple page on their website where the key factors are broken down into easily understandable chunks of information.
As a brief summary, a company with more than five employees must by law:

  • Appoint a competent person to look after health and safety issues
  • Prepare a health and safety policy
  • Conduct task-specific risk assessments for all activities and hazards which may be encountered
  • Consult their workers
  • Provide information, instruction and training relevant to each employee on how to carry out their role safely.
  • Have the right workplace facilities (toilets, washrooms etc)
  • Have first aid provision (inc. a first aid box and first aid trained personnel)
  • Display the law poster (available from the HSE)
  • Have insurance for the business (employers liability)
  • Be aware of all health and safety legislation relevant to your business.
  • Report and record accidents and work-related illness in an Accident Report Book and where necessary report major accidents to the HSE under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013)

What are the consequences of not complying with health and safety executive rules?

Ultimately, it is morally wrong to put someone in a position where they may become injured at work, however, there are also severe legal and financial consequences of not complying with health and safety laws. These can include:

  • Criminal prosecution of the company or individuals, which can bring about unlimited fines, disqualification of directors and even custodial sentences.
  • Civil claims are made by individuals resulting in increased insurance premiums.
  • Lost time through sick leave of the injured person, investigation time and time spent defending criminal and civil legal action.
  • Reputational damage and potential loss of clients
    Is it worth risking any of the above when you could work with us to ensure you are fully HSE compliant?

How Does iSAFE Work with Companies?

In the very simplest terms, iSafe can take the pain out of managing health and safety in your workplace. Our team of highly qualified and experienced health and safety practitioners will walk you step by step through what you will need to have in place to comply with the law.

We start analysing your current systems and procedures against the requirements of the law and make recommendations for any necessary changes or additions required in order to comply.

From there we can develop the required policies, procedures and documentation as well as providing/recommending suitable training packages to your organisation to keep you compliant and the HSE happy.

We can also become your competent source of health and safety advice, providing continuous monitoring of your health and safety management system through system reviews, audits, accident investigations and other mechanisms to ensure you stay compliant and the standards of safety within your business continually improve.

If you are in doubt of what you have to do to comply, contact iSAFE today for a no-obligation chat