Health and safety inspections

We regulate health and safety standards in certain types of premises to prevent people being killed, injured or made ill at work. We aim to ensure that safe and healthy working conditions are provided for all employees, the self-employed and members of the public visiting these premises.

Where we inspect

We only visit and inspect businesses within County Durham, for which we have enforcement responsibility (see the HSE A-Z Guide to Allocation for a full list).

The types of business we visit include:

offices
retail or wholesale shops
warehouses
hotels
caterers
sport and leisure activities
consumer services (e.g. launderettes, hairdressers and undertakers)
residential care homes
places of worship (e.g. churches)
pre-school child care
mobile vending

We do not inspect those businesses where Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the enforcing authority at. This includes:

nursing homes
factories and other manufacturers
car repair workshops
construction activities
council premises

When we visit

Generally planned inspections are carried out in only the highest risk businesses, and in most cases they are carried out without prior notification to the business operator.

Why we visit

In addition to carrying out an inspection, we may visit for other reasons

to gather information about a new business, or businesses that were previously unknown to us
to investigate complaints about health and safety relating to a business activity
as part of our health and safety intervention programme that focuses on specific local or national issues
as part of an investigation into an accident, dangerous occurrence or a case of industrial disease
as part of a survey or special initiative.

What we check

During an inspection, we check that any hazards which arise out of or in connection with work have been identified, and the associated risks adequately controlled. We will look at the level of health and safety training of managers and employees to ensure that it is suitable. Checks will also be made on the adequacy of structural and environmental conditions and that plant and equipment are safe.