Most new businesses employing people must register with an enforcement agency, depending on the nature of your business will depend on whether you register with your local authority or the HSE (health and safety executive).

If you are a business in Knowsley, than Knowsley Council's Health and Safety team will carry out regular checks on offices, shops, warehouses, places used for leisure activities and other non-industrial premises. The Health and Safety Executive will deal with factories and other industrial operations. This ensures that safe and healthy working conditions are provided for all employees, the self- employed and members of the public visiting these premises.

If you are a business operating a factory or other industrial operation, please contact HSE for Health and Safety guidance and information on 0845 600 9 006.

All other businesses should contact Knowsley Council for any information on health and safety.

Knowsley Council's health and safety team are also responsible for investigating complaints made about working conditions and accidents notified.

Complaints about working conditions are always investigated sensitively and the complainant’s confidentiality is assured. Such matters are usually resolved by giving advice to the employer, but as with accident investigation, if formal action is needed then this will be taken. If a complaint cannot be dealt with by the health and safety team, every attempt will be made to give details of a body who can, or the details the complaint can be forwarded on the complainants behalf.

Employers have a duty to report certain dangerous occurrences and accidents at work to the Local Authority.

Investigations of these incidents forms an important part of the Sections work. The outcome of these enquiries usually involves the giving of advice to the employer. If a blatant breach of requirements is identified as the main reason for an accident happening, then formal action will be taken. In the event that someone who has been injured as a result of a work related accident wishes to pursue a compensation claim their legal advisor may wish to obtain a factual statement from us. This details the investigation into the accident and the findings. This can be provided for a fee.

For further information or to report a health and safety issue, please contact Knowsley Council's Health and Safety team on telephone: 0151 443 5438