Health and safety at work

Wokingham Borough comprises approximately 2000 business premises regulated by our Environmental Health team.

Our aim is to:

• Ensure that workplace risks of accidents and injury are reduced and welfare matters addressed so as to protect the workforce and members of the public

• Advise businesses on their legal responsibilities and to raise awareness of Health and Safety issues across the Borough

We make sure that the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and its associated regulations are known and followed by employers and employees.

In order to do this we:

• Carry out a programme of risk-assessed inspections of relevant workplaces, in the local authority enforced sector

• Investigate accidents reported to the local authority under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations - RIDDOR

• Respond to requests for health and safety information from the public and businesses

• Provide educational and promotional materials and information to raise the public profile of health and safety, with particular reference to the local authority enforced sector

• Co-ordinate our enforcement activities with our other services and other local authorities within Berkshire

Generally speaking, we are responsible for the following sectors:

• Offices
• Retail – including shops, hair dressers, builders merchants, supermarkets
• Leisure – including cinema, pubs, gyms and swimming pools
• Hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation

For more information see the Berkshire Health and Safety website.

The Health and Safety Executive - HSE - are responsible for the following sectors:

• Construction sites

• Factories

• Schools and universities

• Premises owned or run by local authorities

• Doctors surgeries and hospitals

• Residential accommodation

• Central government buildings

• Railways and the underground

You can find out more by visiting the Health and Safety Executive website and the Berkshire Health and Safety website.

Contact us