How we inspect
Inspecting key industry sectors, workplaces and work activities is important as it helps ensure health and safety risks are being managed effectively.
We target and inspect dutyholders:
- in sectors which have the most serious risks
- where we have information and intelligence that health and safety is a significant concern, such as:
- previous performance
- concerns raised by workers, the public or others
- incident investigations
- reports of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
How we carry out inspections
When we inspect we:
- speak to relevant people, for example managers, supervisors, workers and employee representatives
- observe a sample of workplace activities, conditions and practices
- assess relevant documents, if necessary
- check whether risk controls are effective
- identify any breaches of the law
- consider appropriate enforcement[16]
Targeting our inspections
It is impossible for us to inspect every one of the estimated 5.2 million businesses in Great Britain. We therefore target those sectors and activities:
- with the most serious risks
- where the risks are least well-controlled
Sector plans
We have well-developed strategies for specific industry sectors. These define the key health and safety issues for that sector, taking into account:
- the size of the industry and its demographics
- death, injury and ill-health rates
- potential risks
Inspectors will therefore concentrate on these issues in deciding how well risks are being managed in a particular sector.
Major hazard industries
We take a risk-based approach when preparing intervention plans for sites subject to a permissioning regime[17], using information and intelligence from a number of sources, including:
- safety cases and reports
- previous performance
- intrinsic hazard