In total, 135 inspections were carried out by HSE and local council inspectors, spread across the following boroughs:
- Middlesbrough 60 inspections
- Stockton 50 inspections
- Redcar and Cleveland 25 inspections and additional visits regarding Landlord responsibilities.
As a result of the inspections, four companies were served with an Improvement Notice to provide additional safeguards and one company was issued with a Prohibition Notice in relation to the storage of highly flammable liquids. Further action is also being taken in relation to landlords' responsibilities under Health and Safety legislation at one Industrial Estate
HSE Inspector Laura Lyons said that serving an Improvement Notice wasn't a decision that was taken lightly, but was in the interests of health and safety and preventing potential accidents occurring.
She said "An improvement notice is used to direct a business to take action to comply with health and safety law. If an inspector decides a notice is necessary, they will discuss the requirement with a senior person in the company and try to resolve any points of difference before serving it. The notice will say what needs to be done, why, and by when. The time period within which to take the remedial action will be at least 21 days, to allow the duty holder time to appeal to an Industrial Tribunal if they so wish
"Although we did have to issue notices during this latest round of inspections, this was only in a handful of cases. Preventing an accident occurring is much better than having to deal with the consequences, and we were able to offer constructive, practical advice to many of the companies we visited. We're very pleased to see that the health and safety message is getting through on Teesside and businesses are taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their employees."
HSE and local authority inspectors both enforce health and safety law in workplaces. Broadly, HSE inspectors have responsibility for workplaces carrying out manufacturing and Local authority inspectors responsibility for workplaces providing services or retail.
