Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Alterations and enforcement notices
Enforcing authorities can issue (See Chapter 17 for 
details):
Alterations notices
– where the premises constitute 
a serious risk to people either due to the features of 
the premises, or hazards present in the premises. The 
notices require the responsible person to notify changes 
and may require them to record the signifi cant fi ndings 
of the risk assessment and safety arrangements; and 
to supply a copy of the risk assessment before making 
changes.
Enforcement notices
– where there is a failure to com-
ply with the requirements of the Order. The notice must 
specify the provisions concerned and MAY include 
directions on remedial action.
Prohibition Notices
– where the risks are so serious 
that the use of the premises should be prohibited or 
restricted. The notice MAY include directions on remedial 
action.
13.2.5 PART 4 offences
Cases can be tried on summary conviction in a magis-
trates court or on indictment in the Crown Court. The 
responsible person can be liable:
➤
on summary conviction to a fi ne not exceeding the 
statutory maximum; and
➤
on indictment to an unlimited fi ne and/or imprison-
ment for up to two years for failure to comply with 
fi re safety duties where there is a risk of death or 
serious injury and for failure to comply with an 
Alterations, Enforcement or Prohibition Notice.
Any person who fails to comply with their duties under 
the Order as regards fi re risks can be prosecuted along-
side or instead of a responsible person. Fines are limited 
to the statutory maximum (or levels 3 or 5 on the stand-
ard scale) on summary conviction but on indictment, the 
fi ne is unlimited.
13.3 
Basic principles of fi re