Most people think that health and safety legislation is complex and difficult to understand, in reality most of it is just common sense.
All businesses have a responsibility to look after the health and safety of anyone who may be affected by their business. This includes employees (if you have any), volunteers, contractors, visitors and members of the public. And, if your business includes food we have responsibility for enforcing legislation and we will inspect your food premises to ensure that you comply with the relevant food hygiene and food standards legislation.
The law is enforced by inspectors employed by the Council or the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) depending on the main business type.
We are responsible for:
- shops and offices
- hotels, restaurants and food takeaways
- cinemas, clubs and pubs
- care homes
- leisure and sporting events as well as pop concerts and
- many other places of public entertainment
The HSE is responsible for:
- manufacturing
- construction sites
- road transport
- council premises and activities e.g. schools
- colleges
- hospitals
- doctors and dentists
Businesses judged to have a higher risk will be inspected without warning by their inspector to check they are following these laws. Other visits are made when a new business starts, for a special campaign or to investigate a complaint or accident.
For more in-depth information about Health and Safety legislation for your business, regardless of the industry, visit the Health and Safety website.
Health and safety legislation applies to all workplaces in the UK.
In the first instance, employers should register their business with Fife Council by sending their details to the address on this page.
An employer must:
- have a written health and safety policy if they employ five or more people. This defines the general duties and responsibilities for everyone at work.
- have written risk assessments that; assess and control the hazards that may hurt employees, customers, partners and any other people who could be affected by their activities
- arrange for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring of the hazards.
- Review the risk assessments regularly
- ensure that they have access to competent health and safety advice
- consult employees about the risks they are exposed to at work and current preventive and protective measures
If a business does not address the above actions there can be serious consequences for both the organisation and individuals which could lead to fines, imprisonment and disqualification.
Relevant documents
As a business there are a number of documents and posters that you should have in place:
- Health and safety policy statement
- Risk Assessments
- Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance
- Health and safety law poster or leaflet
- Accident Book
- Gas and/or electrical test certificates
- Asbestos register
- Leaflets/posters in other languages
It is a legal requirement for employers, the self-employed and those in control of premises to report certain work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences.
Who you report it to depends on the nature of your business. You can report accidents directly to the HSE or to Fife Councils Environmental Health Department.
Where to report accidents
If your business falls into one of the following categories you should report the accident to the HSE.
- manufacturing
- construction sites
- road transport
- council premises and activities e.g. schools
- colleges
- hospitals
- doctors and dentists
They can be contacted online through their website Health and Safety Executive or using the online form at www.riddor.gov.uk
Incidents can also be reported to the HSE by calling the Incident Contact Centre on 0845 300 9923 (Mon to Fri 8.30-5pm) but only to report deaths and specified injuries.
All other businesses
If your business falls into one of the categories described below you can contact either the HSE or Fife Councils Food and Workplace Safety Team by emailing food.advice@fife.gov.uk
- shops
- hotels and restaurants
- food takeaways
- cinemas
- clubs and pubs
- offices
- care homes
- leisure and sporting events as well as pop concerts
- and many other places of public entertainment
For more information on RIDDOR, visit the HSE website.
It is a legal requirement for employers to provide whatever information, instruction and training is needed to ensure the health and safety of their employees. Training isn’t just about formal ‘classroom’ courses, it is also about showing people how to do something or telling them what they should or should not do, or simply giving them suitable information.
Health and safety training should take place during normal working hours and should not be paid for by employees.
You may need to think about providing the training in an appropriate language or to consider any other needs that staff may have.
The HSE has produced some useful guidance on the subject called 'Health and Safety Training – What you need to know'.
There are a number of organisations who may be able to help:
If you would like any advice please contact us.
Contact Health and Safety Advice for Businesses
- Email: food.advice@fife.gov.uk
