Are you a member of the public?

If your concern does not relate to your employment then the advice and links below may still be of help:

Sources for general advice

• Health and Safety Executive (opens in a new window)
• Health and Safety Executive A-Z (opens in a new window)
• Business Link (opens in a new window)

If your inquiry relates to an 'at work' situation we can help. If you don't find what you are looking for here or on the HSE website please contact your relevant enforcing authority.  To find out who is the enforcing authority/body at your premises (either HSE or your local authority) please see Who Enforces in Dorset (pdf, 27kb) (opens in a new window) .

We only deal with criminal concerns regarding health and safety at work.

Complaints

Complaints are categorised according to risk and sometimes we may not be able to take action following your complaint please the see WorkWell Dorset complaints procedure (pdf, 410kb) (opens in a new window) .  If we can not take action we will explain why.

Health and Safety Publications

• Guidance documents for health and safety at work can be downloaded free of charge or copies ordered from Health and Safety Executive Books (opens in a new window)
• For specific legislation you can look it up on : Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) (opens in a new window) .

Food Safety

The Food Standards Agency (opens in a new window)  offers good and topical advice on food safety or you can contact your local Environmental Health Department.

Fire Safety

There is  Fire risk assessments (opens in a new window)  and the  Dorset Fire and Rescue Service (opens in a new window) website.

Home Safety

For home safety advice see the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (opens in a new window)  .

Product Safety

  Trading Standards Central (opens in a new window)  deal with complaints regarding services.  You can use a postcode search on the website to find your nearest Trading Standards office.

Health Issues

• If you believe your health is being affected by nearby work activity seek advice from The Employment Medical Advisory Service (EMAS). EMAS is based within the HSE and the office below covers Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole: The Pithay, All Saints Street, Bristol, BS1 2ND Tel:  01179 886000  
• You should also consider contacting your doctor or NHS Direct Online (opens in a new window)  . Also the World Health Organisation's A-Z (opens in a new window)  may help

Gas Safety

• If you can smell gas, think there is a leak or are worried about carbon monoxide poisoning please call the 24 hour gas emergency service on 0800 111 999 the National Grid (opens in a new window) .
•   The HSE information on gas safety (opens in a new window) . is very useful
• Gas Safe (opens in a new window)  may also be of help if you are looking for a visit by a gas engineer or wish to check whether a workman is qualified for a specific job

Personal Safety

Suzy Lamplugh Trust - Personal Safety (opens in a new window)  offers good advice. You may also wish to contact the Police.

Care Quality / Safety in Care Homes

• The Care Quality Commission (CQC) (opens in a new window)  deal with standards expected for care quality in Care Homes and Hospitals,  including care for the disabled. 
• For situations at work, depending on the type of Home, the Local Authority or the Health and Safety Executive may be the enforcing authority Who Enforces in Dorset (pdf, 27kb) (opens in a new window) .

Statistical Information

For statistics on accidents at work and in the home see the Health and Safety Executive web site (opens in a new window)  and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) (opens in a new window) .