On finding a breach of health and safety law, the inspector will decide what action to take.  The action will depend on the nature of the breach.  In most cases these are:

• informal notice may be given, either orally or in writing, on the steps needed to put things right.
• improvement notices require you to put things right within a certain time.  We would usually discuss the time limit with you.
• prohibition notices require you to stop doing something until things are put right.  We only issue these if we consider there is a risk of serious injury.

When notices are issued a copy is provided for employees.  The law requires some notices to be put in a register which is open to public scrutiny.

We will follow up notices to check what you have done.  Failure to comply is a very serious offence and is likely to lead to prosecution.  Health and safety law gives the courts considerable scope for punishing offenders and deterring others.  For example, a failure to comply with an improvement or prohibition notice carries a fine of up to £20,000, 6 months imprisonment, or both.  Higher courts may impose unlimited fines and in some cases imprisonment.

For further information on enforcement, please see our enforcement policy.and our Health and Safety Strategy to 2011