We become involved with complaints about the following:
We use the 
complaints risk matrix [119.38KB] to screen all complaints and allocate them as Red, Amber or Green, depending on the likelihood of persons receiving serious personal injuries or suffering irreversible health affects. We then decide what action we will take. It is unlikely that inspectors will visits premises for complaints about circumstances that are unlikely to result in serious or significant injury or ill health.
A Health and Safety Inspector may:
Employers, employees and safety representatives are also able to seek advice and information relating to any aspect of health and safety in the workplace.
Our team of experts will try to answer your questions, tell you where you can find the information on-line or send information out by post.
To make a complaint or request a service, contact the health and safety team using the following details or by visiting the Contact Centre at Preston Town Hall:
If you do not work in Preston you can use the Directgov local authority search to find the relevant council.
We never tell employers who has made a complaint against them, and many issues can be dealt with when undertaking a general check of the premises. However if the complaint is very specific it is likely employers can guess who has made the complaint.
You will be advised of the course of action that we are going to take when you make the complaint, or shortly afterwards. If you wish to remain anonymous then you will be unable to gain this valuable feedback, and if there is nothing the Inspector can do, you will not be able to be informed of the reasons why.
If your are dissatisfied with the outcome of a complaint you have made, or with the conduct of an officer you can contact the Environmental Health Manager (Health and Safety) at c.hodson@preston.gov.uk directly or you may wish to make a formal complaint to the council.
The Independent Regulatory Challenge Panel will look into complaints regarding advice given by the council's Health and Safety Inspectors about health and safety which you think is incorrect or goes beyond what is required to control the risk adequately.
The panel will consist of independent members who will have the competence and experience to assess advice that has been given on regulatory matters.
Before you raise an issue with the panel, you should have first tried to resolve the matter with the Health and Safety inspector and/or Health and Safety team manager.
Please contact the Independent Regulatory Challenge Panel, if you have tried to resolve the matter with the Heath and Safety Team, but have not been able to reach a satisfactory compromise.
