Health and safety law applies to all businesses, however small. Employers have the primary responsibility for ensuring employees and other persons, including the general public, who use or enter the workplace are protected from risks to their health, safety and welfare. They must make suitable arrangements to manage health and safety. If you are Self Employed, you still have broadly similar responsibilities under health and Safety law.

• Useful advice for self employed and employers is available from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Depending on the main activity of your premises, either the Health and Safety Executive or Lancaster City Council would be responsible for enforcement. Officers of the council's Food and Safety Team are responsible for ensuring the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 are adhered to in over 3000 businesses. These businesses include warehouses, offices, shops, consumer services and residential care homes.

The range of activities undertaken by our officers includes:

• Inspections and Interventions
• Investigation of accidents and dangerous occurrences
• Investigation of complaints relating to workplaces
• Health and safety advice and promotion
• Cooling tower register

We are committed to working in partnership with the HSE, other local authorities and businesses to promote health and safety. We will take enforcement activity when necessary and in accordance with our enforcement policy.