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Ipswich Borough Council and the Health and Safety Executive have a legal duty to enforce the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and related legislation. On behalf of the Council, the Occupational Health and Safety Team aims to ensure that work premises in the Borough are safe for employees and visitors to them and that accidents are prevented wherever possible.
Who enforces health and safety law?
Inspectors from Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). For example IBC in offices, shops, hotels and catering, and leisure activities. HSE at factories, farms and building sites.
Safety policy
If you have 5 or more employees you will need to have a written health and safety policy statement. This sets out how you manage health and safety in your organisation. Remember - you have to put what you write into practice. If you would like a copy of the leaflet 'An introduction to health and safety' which contains an example of a health and safety policy statement please tick this box.
Risk assessment
You must carry out risk assessments. A risk assessment is a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can decide whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. If you have more than 5 employees you must write down your significant hazards and conclusions, and tell your employees about your findings. If you would like a copy of the leaflet 'An introduction to health and safety' which contains a form on which to complete your assessment please tick this box.
Reporting an accident
Reporting accidents and ill health at work is a legal requirement. The enforcing authorities (IBC or HSE) use the information to identify where injuries, ill health and other accidents are occurring and to advise on preventive action.
When do I need to report?
- Death or Major Injury
If there is an accident connected with work and:
Your employee, or a self employed person working on your premises is killed or suffers a major injury (e.g. fracture other than to fingers, thumbs, toes; amputation) or a member of the public is killed or taken to hospital you must notify the Incident Contact Centre wilthout delay.
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- Over 3-day injury
If there is an accident connected with work and your employee or a self employed person working on your premises suffers an over 3-day injury you must contact the Incident Contact Centre within 10 days.
- Disease
If a doctor notifies you that your employee suffers from a reportable work related disease you must contact the Incident Contact Centre immediately.
- Dangerous occurrences
If something happens which does not result in a reportable injury but which clearly could have done, it may be a reportable dangerous occurrence, which must be reported immediately to the Incident Contact Centre.
Incident Contact Centre
Accident reports can be made via a number of methods
- by phone: 0845 300 9923 (8.30am-5pm)
- by fax: 0845 300 9924
- by internet: www.riddor.gov.uk
- by email: riddor@natbrit.com
- by post: Incident Contact Centre, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG
If you would like a copy of the leaflet 'RIDDOR explained' please tick this box.
Asbestos
Asbestos is the largest single cause of work related ill health in the UK. Almost all asbestos-related deaths and ill-health are from exposures several decades ago, but if you work with asbestos, or come into contact with it during repair and maintenance work, you are at risk. Asbestos in many forms can be found in buildings built from 1950 to 1985. A new 'duty to manage' has been added to the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2002. It will apply to you if you have maintenance and repair responsibilities for non-domestic premises. If you would like a copy of the leaflet 'A short guide to managing asbestos in premises', please tick this box.
Further health and safety information
HSE operates a confidential telephone information service called HSE Infoline which is open Monday - Friday 8am to 6pm.
You can contact HSE Infoline by
telephone: 08701 545500 or
fax: 02920 859260 or
email: hseinformationservices@natbrit.com
Alternatively you can contact Ipswich Borough Council Occupational Health and Safety Team (contact details above).
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