Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

1.12.2 Employees 
duties
Employees must:
➤
use any equipment or substance in accordance with 
any training or instruction given by the employer
➤
report to the employer any serious or imminent 
danger
➤
report any shortcomings in the employer’s protect-
ive health and safety arrangements.
1.13 
Role and function of external 
agencies
The Health and Safety Commission, Health and Safety 
Executive and the Local Authorities (a term used to 
cover County, District and Unitary Councils) are all exter-
nal agencies which have a direct role in the monitoring 
and enforcement of health and safety standards. There 
are, however, three other external agencies which have 
a regulatory infl uence on health and safety standards in 
the workplace (see Figure 1.9).
1.13.1 Fire and Rescue Authority
The Fire and Rescue Authority is situated within a sin-
gle or group of local authorities and is normally associ-
ated with rescue, fi re fi ghting and the offering of general 
advice. It has also been given powers to enforce fi re pre-
cautions within places of work under fi re safety law. The 
powers of the Authority are very similar to those of the 
HSE on health and safety matters. The Authority issues 
Alteration Notices to work places and conducts routine 
and random fi re inspections (often to examine fi re risk 

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Health and safety foundations
15
assessments). It should be consulted during the planning 
stage of proposed building alterations when such altera-
tions may affect the fi re safety of the building (e.g. means 
of escape).
The Fire and Rescue Authority can issue both 
Enforcement and Prohibition Notices. The Authority can 
prosecute for offences against fi re safety law.