August 15, 2003—The UK Health & Safety Commission (HSC) has expressed concern over an 11% drop in inspection rates shown in the HSC’s latest statistics on inspection and enforcement action in local authority (LA) enforced sectors in 2001-02. The HSC sees this as a growing trend among local authorities to reduce the priority given to health and safety enforcement.
According to the HSC, 410 local authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales are responsible for enforcing health and safety law in around 1.2 million premises, such as offices, retail/wholesale distribution outlets, hotel and catering establishments, residential care homes, consumer services, and the leisure industry. LAs are required to perform their duties in accordance with guidance from HSC.
LA inspectors made 266,000 visits during 2001/02, 11% fewer than the previous year. Of these, 157,000 were preventive inspections involving a full inspection of health and safety standards, and a further 19,000 were to investigate the circumstances surrounding workplace accidents.
Copies of HELA Health and Safety Activity Bulletin 2003: Inspection and enforcement in local authority enforced sectors are available from HSE/Statistics. The report is also available in PDF format.
