Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

3.6.4 Relationships within the organization
Health and safety advisers:
➤
support the provision of authoritative and independ-
ent advice;
Figure 3.2
Safety practitioner at the front line.

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Organizing for health and safety
35
➤
report directly to directors on matters of policy and 
have the authority to stop work if it contravenes 
agreed standards and puts people at risk of injury;
➤
are responsible for professional standards and sys-
tems. They may also have line management respon-
sibility for other health and safety professionals, in a 
large group of companies or on a large and/or high-
hazard site.
3.6.5 Relationships outside the organization
Health and safety advisers also have a function outside 
their own organization. They provide the point of liaison 
with a number of other agencies including the following:
➤
environmental health offi cers and licensing offi cials
➤
architects and consultants
➤
HSE and the Fire Authorities
➤
the 
police
➤
HM Coroner or the Procurator Fiscal
➤
local 
authorities
➤
insurance 
companies
➤
contractors
➤
clients and customers
➤
the 
public
➤
equipment 
suppliers
➤
the 
media
➤
general 
practitioners
➤
IOSH and occupational health specialists and 
services.
3.7 
Persons in control of premises
Section 4 of the HSW Act requires that ‘Persons in con-
trol of 
non-domestic
premises’ take such steps as are 
reasonable in their position to ensure that there are no 
risks to the health and safety of people who are not 
employees but use the premises. This duty extends to:
➤
people entering the premises to work
➤
people entering the premises to use machinery or 
equipment, for example, a launderette
➤
access and exit from the premises
➤
corridors, stairs, lifts and storage areas.
Those in control of premises are required to take a range 
of steps depending on the likely use of the premises and 
the extent of their control and knowledge of the actual 
use of the premises.
Persons in control of premises must also prevent 
harmful emissions into the atmosphere under section 5 
of the HSW Act, but this has been repealed (Subject to 
Commencement Order) by the Environmental Protection 
Act 1990. In the interim period any action for emissions 
is likely to be under the 1990 Act and not the HSW Act.