General advice

By law, businesses have to maintain the health, safety and welfare of employees, members of the public and anyone else who is affected by the activities of the business. 

• The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) website has a great deal of free information and guidance to help you so check out  Guidance on health and safety at work

• Small businesses may find their example risk assessments useful, and these cover a range of businesses including shops, warehouses, food businesses and offices etc. Risk assessment: Template and examples

• If you are a new business – the Getting started information will help Looking after your business - Getting started as will the H&S ABC: An easy guide to health and safety.  

• Information about accident reporting and RIDDOR can be found here  Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences RIDDOR

• Certain types of businesses and activities fall to Environmental Health to investigate and enforce, including giving advice  - such as retail and wholesale, offices, hospitality, hotels, campsites, residential care homes, consumer services such as beauty parlours and hairdressers, leisure businesses, building merchants, playgroups and nurseries, garden centres etc.,  

• The HSE will investigate, enforce and advise on health and safety in manufacturing premises, farms and agricultural premises, motor vehicle repair, construction, including construction work being done at domestic houses. 

To contact the HSE with a complaint visit Tell us about a health and safety issue

Inspections are not routinely undertaken in line with national guidelines. Investigations will be focussed based on the level of risk associated with the premise and activities linked to accidents or ill health.  

• An officer may visit to carry out an inspection or following a complaint or accident. 

• The Inspector can visit without giving notice and does not need to make an appointment. They have a right to enter and inspect all commercial premises at all reasonable hours. Occasionally, an appointment may be made to make sure they can speak to a responsible person.  

• The Inspector will give feedback on the visit. If any problems have been identified, you will be advised and asked for the problem to be put right either to comply with the law or as good practice.  

• You will be given a reasonable time to rectify these issues, unless there is an immediate risk to health and safety.  

• If the visit is in relation to an accident investigation, this may involve several visits, request for information or further questioning.  

• The Inspector may also decide to contact you by email or telephone depending upon the nature of the complaint or accident.  

If any matters relate to fire safety, contact Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service