Inspectors of Health and Safety
Last updated:Inspectors of Health and Safety from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforce health and safety law in schools and many other workplaces When a health and safety inspector calls (hse.gov.uk)
They may visit without prior warning, although they usually give prior notice, and inspect or audit schools. They may also investigate accidents or complaints. They have the right to talk to employees and safety representatives, take photographs and samples and even, in certain cases, to impound dangerous equipment.
Inspectors may give help and advice on how to comply with the law.
If there is a problem, they may issue formal notices:
- A notification of contravention a document or letter that tells you about health and safety laws you have broken and the reasoning behind it. The inspector will only give you a Notice of Contravention (NoC) if they think you are in ‘material breach’ of the law.
- requiring improvements (an improvement notice).
- prohibiting activities or the use of equipment (a prohibition notice).
They can also prosecute organisations or individuals for breaking health and safety law.