Are you a volunteer?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) help to explain how health and safety legislation may apply to voluntary organisations see When it applies (opens in a new window)

Sources of further guidance

• If you are organising a community activity or small event please see the events booklet (pdf, 641kb) (opens in a new window)
• Guidance on voluntary work involved in planning a charity event or running a village hall (opens in a new window)
• The HSE guidance booklet “Charity and voluntary Workers – A guide to health and safety at work” (opens in a new window)  can be downloaded free of charge or copies ordered from HSE Books (opens in a new window)
• For general advice see the  Health and Safety Executive (opens in a new window) website
• Health and Safety made simple (opens in a new window)  will guide you through what your responsibilities are
• Health and Safety Executive A-Z (opens in a new window)  
• Sign up for Health and Safety Executive bulletins (opens in a new window)  - bulletins are specific to your industry, so you can keep up to date with any changes in the law
• To find out who is the enforcing authority/body at your premises (HSE or Local Authority) please see Who Enforces in Dorset (pdf, 27kb) (opens in a new window)

The following websites may also be of interest:

• Association of Charity Shops (opens in a new window)
• Charities Safety Group (opens in a new window)  
• National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) (opens in a new window)
• Upkeep (opens in a new window)  - this includes the Charities Facilities Management Group (CFMG)

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 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 alternatively you can contact your local Environmental Health Department.

Fire Safety

Fire risk assessment guidance can be found on the 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

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

Health Issues

See NHS Direct Online (opens in a new window)  and the World health Organisation's A-Z (opens in a new window) .

Consultants

• Before you approach a consultant consider managing your own health and safety. You probably know your business better than a third party and you are ideally based to manage your own health and safety.   Health and Safety Executive (opens in a new window) website provides tools to help you do this, also see the HSE's Health and Safety made simple (opens in a new window)  website.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR): (opens in a new window) lists consultants who can offer general advice to UK businesses to help them manage health and safety risks. 

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 Health and Safety Executives webpage on gas safety (opens in a new window)  is very useful
• The Gas Safe (opens in a new window)  website may also be of help if you are looking for a visit by a gas engineer or wish to check a work man is qualified for a specific job

Personal Safety

The 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 at work situations, 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)