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Health And Safety Executive (HSE) – Roles & Responsibilities Defined
Use our guide to learn about the role of the Health and Safety Executive and how our experienced accident at work solicitors could help you seek compensation today.
£100 million in compensation
Health And Safety Executive (HSE) – Roles & Responsibilities Defined
Use our guide to learn about the role of the Health and Safety Executive and how our experienced accident at work solicitors could help you seek compensation today.
AS SEEN ON
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is an independent regulator responsible for enforcing occupational health and safety standards in the UK. As part of its regulatory duties, the HSE conducts workplace inspections, investigates incidents, provides guidance on risk assessments, and takes enforcement action. This includes the power to issue prohibition or improvement notices to employers, which may lead to unlimited fines imposed by the courts.
When making an accident at work claim, the findings of an HSE investigation can provide valuable evidence by identifying how an employer breached health and safety law. In the UK, all employers owe their employees a duty of care to take all reasonable steps to ensure their health and safety at work, as mandated by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
If you’ve suffered injuries as a result of an accident at work caused by the negligent actions of an employer, whether this be a fall from height or a manual handling incident, JF LAW’s solicitors possess the expertise required to provide the support you deserve.
Contact Our Advisors
Get in touch with us for more information about the role of the HSE or how JF LAW’s dedicated team can assist you through the workplace accident claims process. Our advisors can be reached by:
- Calling us on 0151 375 9916
- Contacting us online
What Is The Health And Safety Executive (HSE)?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the national independent regulatory body for workplace health and safety in Great Britain. It acts in the public interest to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The HSE is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 through thorough inspections, investigations, and prosecutions. Alongside these regulatory duties, the HSE also provides data on specific industries and publishes statistics on workplace injuries and ill-health.
How Was The HSE Formed?
The HSE was formed following the enactment of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, with the purpose of unifying and modernising workplace safety regulations. This legislation provided the legal framework for the creation of the HSE on 1 January 1975, replacing a fragmented system of sector-specific regulatory bodies such as the Mines Inspectorate.
The 1974 Act was influenced by the 1972 Robens Report, which recommended consolidating workplace safety legislation to place shared responsibility on both employers and employees.
If you have any questions about the HSE, our advisors are happy to field them. They can also provide a free consultation to determine if you can seek compensation for your workplace injuries.
Why Is The Health And Safety Executive Important?
The Health and Safety Executive is important because it works to create a safer working environment and reduce the risk of fatal accidents, injuries, and illnesses by enforcing regulatory standards. It provides guidance to employers for meeting their legal obligations, inspects workplaces, and enforces safety laws.
Additionally, the HSE serves as a national authority to ensure that workplace health and safety regulations are practical, effective, and evidence-based. This enables the HSE to advise businesses and play a key role in reviewing and developing regulations, such as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Furthermore, the HSE prioritises industries in high-hazard sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and construction.
Contact us to learn more about the importance of the HSE.
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The Key Responsibilities Of The HSE
The key responsibilities of the HSE include enforcing workplace health and safety legislation, conducting inspections and investigations, and providing educational resources for employers.
Below, we discuss some of the HSE’s responsibilities in further detail:
Investigations And Inspections
The Health and Safety Executive regularly conducts proactive inspections and investigations to ensure that UK workplaces comply with health and safety legislation. Inspectors have statutory powers to enter premises, take evidence, and take enforcement action. These range from issuing notices to recommending prosecution.
Legislation Enforcement
In its Enforcement Policy Statement, the HSE sets out its approach to situations where companies fail to comply with legislation or where a serious hazard is identified.
According to this policy, the HSE may use the following enforcement methods:
- Providing written guidance regarding breaches of safety laws
- Issuing improvement notices to manage workplace risks
- Sending prohibition notices to stop certain activities if they create serious risks
- Bringing prosecutions where there has been a significant breach of health and safety legislation
Guidance And Education
By publishing industry-specific advice and Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP), the HSE helps employers meet their legal responsibilities and manage workplace risks effectively. ACOPs provide approved, practical methods for employers and have special legal status. This allows them to be used in prosecutions for breaches of health and safety law.
Get in touch with our advisors today for more information on the HSE’s responsibilities.
Why Should Companies Comply With The HSE?
Companies should comply with the HSE to fulfil their legal obligations, avoid enforcement action, and reduce the risk of workplace accidents leading to injury, ill-health, or death. Adherence provides both legal and financial protection, as a breach of health and safety regulations can result in prosecutions and unlimited fines for employers.
Taking reasonable steps to ensure the health and well-being of staff has several practical benefits for employers. In particular, it boosts productivity, lowers staff turnover, and reduces sick leave, leading to lower costs and a more positive reputation for companies that commit themselves to fostering a safer working environment.
Contact us if you would like more information on why companies should comply with the HSE.
Do I Need To Contact The Health And Safety Executive After An Accident At Work?
As an employee, you do not need to contact the Health and Safety Executive after an accident at work. Instead, your employer is legally responsible under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) to notify the HSE of any reportable incidents, such as deaths and specified injuries like amputations or serious burns.
While you are not required to contact the HSE yourself, you should report an accident to your supervisor or manager as soon as possible. You will also need to make sure that the incident has been recorded in the workplace accident book.
This said, there are specific circumstances where you may wish to raise a concern with the HSE, including:
- If your employer fails to report a serious incident under RIDDOR
- If you have previously reported a health and safety risk to your employer that has not been addressed
- In the case of a catastrophic incident, such as those involving fatalities, where you believe it is necessary to immediately notify the regulator
Contact our advisors today for more information about when to contact the HSE.
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Get More Support After A Workplace Injury From Our Solicitors
Below, we explore how our specialist accident at work solicitors can help you seek the compensation you deserve:
Why Claim Accident At Work Compensation With JF Law
JF Law’s team of solicitors have extensive experience supporting injured workers through the claims process. We deliver a personalised experience tailored to your individual circumstances and needs. If you’ve unfortunately been injured because of a negligent employer, we understand how important it is to have someone by your side who can help you navigate the complexities of an accident at work claim.
We’re here to support you and ensure the process of claiming is as seamless as possible. Below is a selection of the services that we offer to claimants:
- Assistance with connecting you to rehabilitation and recovery specialists to support you in the aftermath of your accident
- Help with gathering, obtaining and compiling evidence to build an unshakeable case on your behalf
- Simple explanations of complicated legal terms, and explanations of the Health and Safety Executive’s role in the workplace
- Regular updates about the progression of your case, and a dedicated point of contact throughout the process
- Advocating on your behalf to recover compensation that also considers your future care needs, as well as any lost earnings and impact on future employment prospects
No Win No Fee Workplace Accident Claims
In addition to the services we explored above, our solicitors at JF Law work under a Conditional Fee Agreement. Under this type of contract, our services are offered on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you wouldn’t be charged for your solicitor’s work before the claim commenced, or during the legal process. You also wouldn’t be liable to pay these service fees if your workplace accident compensation is not secured.
In a successful accident at work claim, your solicitor will deduct a pre-discussed and agreed percentage of your compensation. This serves as their success fee but is legally capped to ensure our claimants always receive a majority of the compensation.
Contact Our Solicitors
If this way of claiming compensation sounds like it would benefit you, please get in touch with our advisors using the details below. To reach our advisory team, you can:
- Call us on 0151 375 9916
- Contact us online
Learn More
Why not read some of our other pages about:
- How to claim for a fatal accident at work
- What to do after an accident at work
- The steps involved in pursuing inadequate training compensation claims
Helpful external resources:
- Find out if you would be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay in this government resource
- Health and Safety Executive guidance on managing sick leave and a return to work
- NHS information about back pain
Thank you for reading our guide about the Health and Safety Executive, and we hope it has been helpful for you.
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