Health & Safety
The Health Protection Team at Winchester City Council is responsible for the enforcement of health and safety regulations in over 2000 premises such as offices, hotels, restaurants, warehouses and shops. Responsibility is shared with the Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is responsible for inspecting manufacturing industries, construction and agriculture. For more information about the types of premises enforced by the HSE and local authorities visit the HSE website.
Our task is to ensure that every employer, employee and self-employed person understands and complies with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated legislation.
Basic principles of a safe workplace include floors and corridors kept clear, sufficient light and ventilation, an appropriate temperature and seating to fit the worker.
Main duties of the Team are:
- Dealing with complaints and enquiries about health and safety issues
- Carrying out routine inspections
- Health and safety enforcement where breaches of the Regulations are found
- Investigating accidents at work
Complaints
All complaints regarding health, safety, welfare, or working conditions are investigated in confidence within 3 days of receipt. The officer will discuss the complaint and advise as to any action to be taken.
Inspections
Routine inspections are carried out to ensure compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The inspections enable a risk assessment to be produced for each premise, which determines the minimum frequency of visits per year. A risk assessment examines what in the workplace could cause harm to people so that precautions can be taken.
- Asbestos Link to the HSE website with lots of information about the dangers of asbetos and the law.
- Business Fire Safety Guidance on what businesses need to do to comply with fire safety legislation.
- Dog Fouling Winchester City Council adopted the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 to cover all land within its district which is open to the air and to which the public are allowed or permitted
- Getting Started Details of what your responsibilities are and reasons why you should be taking health and safety seriously.
- Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Information about how to notify Winchester City Council of cooling towers and evaporative condesers.
- Smokefree Information about the smokefree law
- Asbestos in Commercial Property The duty to manage asbestos requires you to have controls in place to manage any possible exposure.
- Special Treatments Anyone carrying out the processes of acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing or electrolysis must register with Winchester City Council by 2nd October 2012.
- Construction Regulations A link to the Health and Safety Executives website which provides detailed information on Contruction and Health and Safety.
- Dangerous Structures and Public Safety The Building Control Division has a responsibility to deal with dangerous buildings as they occur.
- Emergencies It is our responisibility to support the Emergency Services in the event of a major incident.
- Explosives Explosives are dealt with by the Health and Safety Executive.
- Health and Safety Licences and Registrations There are licences you may need to comply with when considering various activities.
