Advice for Employers

Health & Safety Inspectors

How do you see the health and safety inspectorate?

Tick as many of the 15 statements below which most closely resemble your own thoughts and feelings about them.

1	An employer's best friend.
2	A source of good advice
3	My worst enemy!
4	A useful source of help and information.
5	A worthwhile and necessary body there to help me maintain high standards of health and safety practice in my workplace.
6	They are always poking their nose in where it isn't wanted.
7	A necessary evil
8	They are just there to pick faults.
9	A big irritation.
10	What's a health and safety inspector?
11	I'm not bothered.
12	They have far too much power.
13	I try never to upset them.
14	I work with them frequently in order to protect my employees from accidents and ill-health.
15	I could not manage without their guidance.

Ticking numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 14 and 15 means that you have a positive attitude toward health and safety and understand the importance of the work done by health and safety inspectors. They are there primarily to help you not to hinder you. They get tough when they see bad practice which could endanger the lives of you and your employees.

Ticking numbers 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 means that you have a rather negative attitude towards health and safety. It is far better to develop good relations with your health and safety inspectors and use them as sources of help, advice and guidance. If you see them as the bad guys, what are you trying to hide?

Ticking number 13 is not a bad idea. Maintain a healthy relationship with your HSI and have confidence in their ability to help you manage health and safety in your workplace.