Forms FAQs

About these forms

  • Step 1: Some of HSE's external forms have been converted to interactive forms. These forms are simple and must be completed online as a one off task.
  • Step 2: The completed forms can be saved to your hard drive and printed (prior to signing and posting). Some can also be e-mailed.
  • Step 3: The forms cannot be amended once the Continue button has been clicked. The information typed into the form is saved with the form as a read only record.
  • Step 4: You must have Acrobat Reader installed on your PC to use some of these forms.
  • Step 5: Priced books/forms can still be obtained from HSE Books for manual completion.

Listing of can do - can't do

Can do Can't do
You can type into the form whilst displayed in Acrobat Reader. You cannot download the forms to your hard drive for completion later.
The forms are for completing by one person in one go. The form cannot be forwarded with the intention of another person adding information to the form.
The form can only be amended whilst completing online. If further amendment is needed after clicking the Continue button the Go back option can be used to access the original form held in memory (PC cache.) The form cannot be amended offline.
Once the form has been completed, the Next Action page allows the form to be saved to your hard drive and printed. The form cannot be saved locally, printed or emailed until the Continue button on the form has been clicked and the Next Action page displays.
The form can be saved to a folder of your choice as a record of the information sent. This is in the format of a read only file. Once offline and the form has been saved locally it is not possible to make further amendments to the form.
If you need to complete several copies of the same form, it is possible to use the Go Back option on the Next Action page and reuse the original form. Some of the information in the form may be reusable and need not be retyped. See the topic 'Re-using a form'. When you wish to reuse a form you have just completed, you can do this by using the go back option. The information held in the form can be reused only whilst you are still linked via the Internet. This does not apply when using a different form.

How to select and complete these forms

  • Step 1: Choose the category for your form.
  • Step 2: Select the form from the form index listing.
  • Step 3: The form will load using Acrobat Reader V5.0 or above.
  • Step 4: Type your details in the fields provided to complete your selected form. You can tab from field to field or click with your mouse.
  • Step 5: Click the "Continue" button at the end of the form. (This will merge the typed information with the form).
  • Step 6: A "Next Action" page will display.
  • Step 7: Choose the "Open" option to view the merged form (which should now be in read only format).
  • Step 8: The form will be displayed in a window. You can do one or more of the following:
    • Proof read the form to check for mistakes
    • Use the "Save" icon from the toolbar to save a copy of the read only form to your hard drive
    • Use the "Print" icon from the toolbar to print a copy of the form
    • This window does not automatically close down. To avoid confusion when reusing the form or editing the form you should ensure you close the window first by clicking the close button in the top right corner of this window.
  • Step 9: You can choose the "Go back" option to amend your form if you identify mistakes. This will take you back to your original form. You can then make amendments/changes to the form. Click the "Continue" button when your changes are complete.

The 'continue' button

The continue button

  • Step 1: The "Continue" button is at the bottom of each form and should be clicked when the form is complete.
  • Step 2: This action merges your information with the form and converts the form to a read only file.

The 'next action' page

  • Step 1: After the form has been completed and the "Continue" button clicked, a Next Action page displays with options to Open, Save and Print the form.
  • Step 2: The 'Open' option displays the form in a separate window. You may then use the menu bar to Save or Print the form.
  • Step 3: This allows you to save a copy of the form to your hard drive and print the form for signing and posting.

Amending a form

  • Step 1: It is not possible to amend or reuse a completed form whilst disconnected from the Internet. Once you have saved your form to your hard drive, it can be re-opened for viewing only and cannot be edited/amended.
  • Step 2: The form can however be amended whilst still linked to the Internet even after the "Continue" button has been clicked to action the merging process.
  • Step 3: The Next Action page includes a "Go back" option that returns you to the original form.
  • Step 4: Amendments to the form can be made before clicking the "Continue" button to action the merge process.
  • Step 5: Whilst you remain linked to the Internet this option can be used as many times as you wish.

Re-using a form

  • Step 1: If you need to complete the same form more than once, it is possible to re-use the initial form.
  • Step 2: Once you have completed a form, the "Go back" option can be selected to take you back to the original form held in your PC's memory.
  • Step 3: You can change the details in the form and repeat the above process as many times as you wish, but only whilst you remain linked to the Internet.
  • Step 4: It is recommended that you use the options to save and print the form each time you amend it before you re-use it.
  • Step 5: Some forms have a Reset button available. This means existing information held in PC memory can be cleared where the information does not need to be re-used.

PC memory ( ie PC cache)

  • Step 1: If you load the same form you have recently completed, the form retains the original information. This is because the information is held in your PC's cache memory.
  • Step 2: This information is only available on your own PC and is not viewable when another user opens the same form via the Internet.
  • Step 3: This information is only held within the cache memory on the hard disk of your computer either until your computer is switched off or the cache memory is overwritten with new information.

Magnifying your form

  • Step 1: The Acrobat Reader toolbar allows you to Zoom out and Zoom in to increase or decrease the magnification of the form.
  • Step 2: The toolbar icons display as follows: zoom in displays as a magnifying glass with a plus inside wheres zoom out displays as a magnifying glass with a minus symbol inside
  • Step 3: The zoom feature can be used to magnify to a large degree eg 1600% or decrease to a small degree eg 8%.
  • Step 4: This is a useful aid to partially sighted people.

Acrobat reader

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Updated 01.11.24