Health and safety at work

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and over 380 local authority Environmental Health Services are responsible for the enforcement of most of the health and safety in the UK.

The role of the enforcement authorities is to ensure that duty holders manage and control these risks and thus prevent harm to employees and members of the public.

This is based upon the main activity carried on at the premises. In general, Environmental Health are the enforcing authority in the following types of businesses:

• retail
• wholesale distribution
• warehousing
• hotel and catering premises
• offices
• consumer and leisure industries

Local authority enforcement allocation

You can find out who the enforcement authority is for your business at HSE: Local authority enforcement allocation.

Environmental health advice

Environmental Health officers can provide health and safety advice to businesses which fall to us for enforcement of health and safety.

If we receive health and safety complaints regarding businesses which are enforced by us then we are required to investigate and take any action that we deem is required.

Our actions will be proportionate to the level of risk and may involve explaining, educating, encouraging and when required, taking enforcement action.

If you have a health and safety concern regarding a business in East Ayrshire, of which we are the enforcing authority, then please contact our Environmental Health Service.

When we receive health and safety complaints regarding businesses which are enforced by us we are required to investigate and take any action as required.

We will also enforce the law where we find any health and safety concerns within businesses. Our actions will be proportionate to the level of risk and may involve explaining, educating, encouraging and when required, taking enforcement action.

Any enforcement action we take is to ensure duty holders:

• deal immediately with serious risks so they prevent harm
• comply with the law
• are held to account if they fail in their responsibilities

Our enforcement action is proportionate, targeted, consistent, transparent and accountable.

Environmental Health officers can also provide health and safety advice to businesses which fall to us for enforcement of health and safety.

Health and Safety Executive enforcement

If your concern is with a business which is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive, then the best course of action is to contact them directly.

Contact the Health and Safety Executive

All businesses have a duty to report certain accidents and incidents which occur at work.

If you are an employer, self-employed or in control of work premises you have a legal duty to report accidents, and incidence of ill health at work to the relevant enforcing authority. The information enables the enforcing authorities to identify where and how risks arise and to investigate serious accidents.

Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

The RIDDOR reporting system is only to be used by those who have duties under the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

To help you decide whether or not an incident is reportable visit HSE: Examples of reportable incidents.

How to submit a RIDDOR incident

If you want to submit an incident, or require more information visit HSE: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

Once you have made a RIDDOR report and submitted the online form, the report will then be allocated to the relevant enforcing authority, either Environmental Health or Health and Safety Executive.

Events can include the following:

• street party
• gala day
• agricultural show
• beer or food festival
• school or community fair
• fundraiser barbecue
• fireworks display

Some events use inflatable play equipment, which can pose risks if not properly supervised or maintained.

There have been serious incidents where inflatables have collapsed or blown away in windy conditions. Inflatables are common at events and other premises where Environmental Health is responsible for enforcement.

Examples of inflatables include:

• bouncy castles
• inflatable slides
• bungee runs
• obstacle courses
• disco domes
• toddler play zones

Precautions to avoid serious accidents

There are simple precautions that must be taken to help avoid serious incidents.

This includes ensuring:

• that devices are correctly anchored to the ground
• measuring wind conditions at regular intervals
• measuring the internal pressure of the inflatable at regular intervals
• there is suitable supervision
• following manufacturers' operating instructions and rules of play
• ensuring there is written documentation from a competent inspection body confirming compliance with British Standard BS EN 14960, including annual inspection by a competent person

Further guidance for operating inflatables in businesses and at events can be found at Health and Safety Executive: Other play inflatables safety advice.

If you are hiring an inflatable for use at home or at a private venue, advice can be found at Professional Inflatable Play Association (PIPA).

Animal visitor attractions allow visitors to have hands‑on contact with animals.

Environmental Health is responsible for enforcing health and safety at these premises and at events involving animal activities.

This includes:

• lambing events
• open farms
• gala days with any animal contact activities including:
  • owls and birds of prey
  • reptiles
  • llamas and alpacas

Risks from contact with animals

There is a risk of infection from contact with animals at animal visitor attractions, and control measures must be in place to protect visitors and staff.

All animals naturally carry a range of micro-organisms, some of which do not harm the animal but can be passed to humans, known as zoonoses. Children, pregnant women, older people, and those with weakened immune systems may be at higher risk from some types of zoonotic disease.

People can become infected by:

• eating or drinking contaminated food or drink
• direct contact with contaminated animals
• touching or kissing animals in petting areas or during bottle-feeding
• touching environments contaminated with animal faeces or through bites

Further information and a code of practice are available at Health and Safety Executive: Preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact.