Getting started

What HSE inspectors look for

Assessing your workshop

Conditions will vary from clean workshops to those where water washes across the floor and dust is allowed to accumulate surfaces. General tidiness is often a good indication of how well other issues are being managed.

Machinery and hand tools should all be well maintained and have the correct safeguards. They should also only be used by those trained and competent to do so and you should be able to provide evidence to prove this.  Dust and fume extraction (local exhaust ventilation) should also be well maintained.

Supervisors and managers should ensure that safe working practices are followed and action taken if unsafe practices are observed.

Inspectors will also look at other safety issues, such as work at height and transport. They will also want to see good control of health risks from manual handling, noise, hand arm vibration and hazardous dust.

Have the right paperwork

Inspectors may ask to see copies of COSHH assessments and risk assessments if you have more than five employees, and health surveillance records (or summaries).

There should be evidence of maintenance and test records for any lifting equipment, pressure systems and extraction equipment and instructions for employees on how to use it properly.

There should also be information provided to employees covering:

• training and supervision for use of machinery and hand tools; and
• information on health hazards and how to control the risks.