The Health and Safety Executive is His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Health and Safety and is the responsible authority for the enforcement of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act and associated regulations.
It is a criminal offence to breach the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 or any of the regulations made under it.
What to expect if a HSE inspector visits your ward or department.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service are the enforcement authority relating to fire safety and how powers similar to that of the Health and Safety Executive.
The Care Quality Commission is responsible for investigating Health and Safety Incidents which affect patients. The CQC can operate jointly with the HSE under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
What do trade union safety reps do?
Safety reps play a crucial role in making sure the workplace is safe, secure and clean for all colleagues and patients.
Activities include:
- Talking to their members about health and safety issues and work together with management to resolve issues.
- They may investigate potential hazards
- They can raise concerns with the Trust on behalf of their members to improve safety in the workplace and deal with specific problems that arise at work
- They promote better health and safety in the workplace and encourage everyone to play their part for health and safety.
What training do safety reps have?
To be an accredited Safety Rep, you must hold at least the Health and Safety Reps Stage 1 certificate, however, most safety reps go on to achieve the Level 3 TUC Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.