The Health and Safety Section, which is part of Blackpool Council's Quality Services Directorate is committed to ensuring that all those who live, work in or visit Blackpool have an understanding of the Health and Safety. The team aims to improve standards of health and safety, reduce the incidence of workplace accidents and associated ill health.
Public Protection Officers make up the Health and Safety team. The team carry out inspections of premises including offices, shops, retail and wholesale distribution, hotel and catering establishments, petrol filling stations, residential care homes and the leisure industry.
Many people are employed at these premises that, by their nature, attract thousands of members of the public through their doors every week. The diversity of work activities and the involvement of members of the public make Local Authority (LA) enforcement activity even more challenging.
LAs and HSE are responsible for the enforcement of health and safety in Great Britain under the general direction of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC). LAs and HSE work in partnership to secure HSC’s objectives.
An inspector is allowed to turn up to inspect a business at any reasonable time. Inspections are carried out to assess the level of health and safety commitment within a business. A business is categorised by the hazards and risks within the company, so the greater the risk, the more often they will be inspected.
It is necessary to look at all areas of the business and any documentation relating to health and safety such as risk assessments, accident books and safety policies. The officers also make recommendations on practices, offering advice on the law and enforcing where required. |