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Workplace health and safety

Accidents at work

Workplace accidents affect employers, employees, and members of the public. They cost the UK economy millions of pounds each year in lost working days, lost productivity, medical treatment, sick pay, insurance claims, compensation, and fines.

Health and safety officers investigate complaints about workplaces, accidents, dangerous occurrences, and work-related diseases.

Employees

If you're an employee, speak to your employer or workplace safety representative about the problem before contacting us. Most health and safety issues can be resolved without getting the council involved.

If the issue is a serious breach of health and safety, and there’s a real risk of injury to employees or members of the public, get in touch with us. You can contact the Environmental Health team by calling 01642 726001 or emailing EHTS@middlesbrough.gov.uk.

Employers

Employers must report accidents, injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Executive by making a RIDDOR report. If your workplace is in the Middlesbrough Council area, the report will be sent to our Environmental Health team.

We do not investigate all accidents reported to us. It depends on the type and seriousness of the accident, and the circumstances in which it occurred.

If we carry out an investigation, an officer may need to contact you for more information. If the accident does not need investigating, no further action will be taken and you will not be contacted.

You can read more about health and safety at work on GOV.UK and workers' health and safety on the Health and Safety Executive website.

Better Health at Work

We want to help bring the benefits of good workplace health and wellbeing to as many people as possible. The North East Better Health at Work Award scheme offers workplaces guidance, support, and recognition for improving the health and wellbeing of their employees.

The scheme is free, flexible, and open to all employers in the region. Every employer which signs up is supported by a dedicated health improvement specialist.

There are five levels of award: bronze, silver, gold, continuing excellence, and maintaining excellence.

A healthy workplace has lots of benefits for employers. It can lead to lower levels of absence, increased productivity, and improved performance. It can also improve the organisation's reputation with staff, stakeholders, and the wider community.

How to get involved

To find out more or sign up for the award, contact the Environmental Health team by calling 01642 726001 or emailing EHTS@middlesbrough.gov.uk.