Health and safety
Health and safety at work
Our remit includes:
- Acupuncture, body piercing (including microblading or micropigmentation) and beauty parlours
- Builders merchants
- Care homes excluding Nursing homes
- Catering premises (Including Cafes, restaurants, and mobile food vendors)
- Community Halls
- Hotels and leisure facilities
- Nursery or Playgroup
- Offices
- Place of Worship
- Pubs
- Riding stables
- Shops including food retail
- Tyre and exhaust fitting premises
- Warehouses
Other types of work activity or premises are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The council's aim for the regulation of health and safety at work is to protect the health, safety and welfare of people at work. We also seek to safeguard others, such as members of the public, who may be exposed to risks from the way work is carried out.
Reporting a Heath and Safety Concern
If you have a health and safety concern that relates to an activity in the above list of premises, in the first instance you should raise your concern with the employer or person directly. If no improvement is made you can raise your concern with us.
We do not cover all Health and Safety matters. You should check The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website as there are a number of organisations that deal with Health and Safety. For example, if contractors are removing asbestos containing material from a private dwelling this would be construction activity, and the Health & Safety Executive would have jurisdiction.
Please note we can only investigate concerns relating to businesses within the Borough of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. If your concern relates to a business out of the Borough please find the relevant council on the GovUK website.
Health and safety advice for businesses
Any business requiring advice on health and safety at work, including new businesses, is advised to consult the:
This site contains information suitable for all business types, from the very simple and low risk, through to comprehensive guidance for the highest risk sectors. This includes leaflets and publications for free download, as well as templates and examples of documents such as risk assessments and health and safety policies.
Inspections and enforcement
We may visit work premises to investigate accidents, complaints about health and safety conditions or to carry out planned inspections of some high risk activities. We might visit by appointment or visits may be unannounced, as officers have a right of entry to work premises at any reasonable time.
We can also visit at the request of the business, to provide advice and information on specific issues.
Our visits and investigations will usually focus on the main risks presented by the business. They will include a physical inspection of the site or activity, discussion with managers and staff, and examination of relevant documentation.
The outcomes of the visit or investigations will be clearly notified in writing. They will specify any legal requirements and make recommendations for good practice. The timescale for compliance will also be clearly stated.
If formal enforcement is necessary, for example the service of an Improvement Notice, the matter will be explained in full, including the timescale for compliance and appeal process.
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Our Enforcement Policy - PDF, 169.4Kb) states our principles and standards regarding enforcement.