Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Summary of the actions available to 
an Inspector
Following a visit by an inspector to premises, the follow-
ing actions are available to an inspector:
➤
take no action
➤
give verbal advice
➤
give written advice.
➤
formal 
caution
➤
serve an improvement notice
➤
serve a prohibition notice
➤
prosecute.
In any particular situation, more than one of these 
actions may be taken.
The decision to prosecute will be made either when 
there is suffi cient evidence to provide a realistic possibility 
of conviction or when prosecution is in the public interest.
Work-related deaths
are investigated by the police jointly 
with the HSE or Local Authority to ascertain whether a 
charge of manslaughter (culpable homicide in Scotland) 
is appropriate. If the police decide not to pursue such 
a charge, the HSE or Local Authority will continue the 
investigation under health and safety law. A Corporate 
Manslaughter Bill is currently passing through Parliament 
and this offers the possibility of a new statutory offence 
when a work related death results from serious manage-
ment failure. However, it is unlikely that there will be indi-
vidual liability for company directors under the bill.
Finally, 
the Health and Safety (Information for 
Employees) Regulations
require that the Approved 
Poster entitled ‘
Health and safety Law – what you should 
know’ is displayed
or the Approved Leafl et is distributed. 
This information tells employees in general terms about 
the requirements of health and safety law. Employers 
must also inform employees of the local address of the 
enforcing authority (either the HSE or the local author-
ity) and the Employment Medical Advisory Service. This 
should be marked on the poster or supplied with the 
leafl et.
Since 1 July 2000 the latest version of the poster 
must be displayed or distributed. The revised text 
focuses on the modern framework of general duties of 
the employer and employee, supplemented by the some 
basic information on health and safety management and 
risk assessment. It includes two additional boxes: one 

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