Joint Food and Health and Safety Service Plan 2026 to 2027
6. Quality assessment
It is recognised that as well as ensuring that premises due for inspection are actually inspected, the quality of the inspection is of equal importance. By ensuring and maintaining the quality of an inspection, it becomes a more focussed, effective tool in securing food safety.
Team leaders who already undertake shadow inspections of new staff, will extend these to existing officers to ensure the delivery of a consistent service.
Notices to be served and other enforcement work are verified by the team leaders or Environmental Health Manager to ensure consistency with the Enforcement Policy and compliance with the Code of Practice.
The council also has a corporate complaints procedure which forms the basis of an escalation process to managers. Such cases are reviewed and any lessons learned are discussed with team members.
| Topic | Hazards |
Potential Poor Performers within an Industry Sector |
High Risk Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | Musculoskeletal disorders |
Retail / wholesale businesses High volume warehousing and distribution |
Manual handling of large or heavy items, including lifting, handling, moving, pushing and pulling. Repetitive movement of the upper limbs over extended periods. Progressive approach recommended with Identify, Approach, Assess method |
| Health | Occupational deafness | Entertainment Sector |
Exposure to excessive workplace noise. Progressive approach recommended with Identify, Approach, Assess method. |
| Health | Occupational lung disease: asbestosis and mesothelioma | Buildings constructed between 1950-2000 where there is intelligence of likelihood poor management e.g. from complaints, RIDDORS, other regulatory activity |
Exposure to asbestos fibre through inadvertent disturbance or suspected poor management of asbestos exposure risk. Identify – In order to help demonstrate impact and identify poor performing sectors please share asbestos intelligence using the recording form provided on HASLIB. |
| Health | Occupation lung disease: asthma | Bakeries where loose flour is used and inhalation is likely to frequently occur | Tipping and mixing of ingredients, bag disposal, flour dusting by hand or sieve, workplace cleaning |
| Health | Zoonosis | Open farms and animal attractions, including animals being taken off-site for visits | Animal handling by children with lack of suitable microorganism control measures |
| Safety | Electrocution | All small to medium enterprises (SME) | Inappropriate use of electrical equipment, installation and maintenance by non-competent person |
| Safety | Explosion caused by leaking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) | Events and catering premises | Unsafe gas appliance installation and conversions, use of LPG cylinders and cartridges, inadequate storage |
| Safety | Violence and aggression at work | Public facing roles | Roles where staff deal with customers who may become upset or angry because of money or personal issues; supporting individuals with dementia or challenging behaviour |
| Safety | Fatalities and amputation caused by crushing | High volume warehousing and distribution | Poorly managed workplace transport, cutting machinery and lifting equipment |
| Safety | Fatalities and serious injuries caused by falls from height | High volume warehousing and distribution | Poorly managed working at height |