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.