The Health and Safety Executive monitor health and safety in the workplace. They have extensive powers, which include: the right of entry into any workplace and any area within that workplace. the right to carry out an inspection without prior notice. the right for co-operation from all persons within that workplace. However, due to a lack of HSE inspectors, local authorities set up their own inspectors who, since 1998, have many of the powers of the HSE. Workplaces are now more likely to get health and safety visits than ever before. If you are currently carrying out risk assessment and keeping a track on health and safety problems within your workplace, then any visit should just be a matter of confirming your current procedures. Many workplaces still turn a blind eye to health and safety and subsequently put themselves not only at risk of high compensation awards or fines but closure of their business. HSE and LA inspectors may take the following action: * Improvement Notice this may be served if there is a breach of statutory duty and it is likely to be continued or repeated. * Prohibition Notice if there is imminent danger to health and safety then this notice may be served requiring the process etc. to cease immediately. The process etc. cannot be recommenced until remedial action has been taken. * Prosecution if it is felt that there is no other alternative then they may decide to prosecute immediately without the need to issue prior notices or warning. Section Index