Food, health and safety

The food, health and safety team ensure compliance with food and health and safety legislation. We offer advice and information to those involved in the preparation, production and sale of food so that all employees in premises are safe and without risk of injury or accident.

Food safety

We inspect all food businesses on a regular basis, including food manufacturing plants, and act as Home or Originating Authority where appropriate.

We investigate confirmed and suspected cases of food poisoning and food/water borne illness, and complaints of foreign objects in food or about food that is unfit for human consumption.

We take informal and formal samples of food produced, prepared, distributed or sold within the borough. This may be as part of a national, regional or local sampling programme or following inspection of food premises, complaints received, notification of suspected or confirmed food poisoning incidents or as a result of emergencies or Food Alerts for Action.

We also carry out various licensing functions and sample private and public water supplies, swimming pools and leisure facilities.

Any premises preparing, producing or selling any type of food must be registered with the local authority. To register, download and print the registration form.

Warrington Food Award

The Warrington Food Award is given to food premises in the borough who show they are capable of achieving and maintaining a high standard of food hygiene and have systems for monitoring the safe production and storage of food. In addition they offer 'healthy' choices in the food they produce.

Businesses achieving standards of excellence will be offered an Award with Distinction.

Scores on the Doors - publication of food hygiene scores

The Scores on the Doors scheme allows members of the public to see the results of the last food hygiene inspection carried out at individual premises by viewing the scores on the doors website, therefore enabling consumers to make informed choices of where they eat and buy food.

Food Standards Agency

The Food Standards Agency is an independent government department set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food. Everything we do reflects our vision of safe food and healthy eating for all.

Health and safety

The work undertaken by the team is both pro-active and reactive. We routinely inspect a range of premises including retail and wholesale shops, warehouses, offices, restaurants and bars, residential care homes and travel agents looking at risks to employees and third parties arising from work activities. A more detailed list can be found below.

Although inspections may involve enforcement, we also provide advice on health and safety matters in the workplace. We carry out a range of enforcement initiatives, listed within the health and safety service plan, where the team focus on one specific area of concern.

We investigate complaints about health, safety and welfare issues from people at work and members of the public. We also carry out accident and ill health investigations following incidents arising out of or in connection with work. We are also able to provide advice to those wanting guidance on workplace health, safety and welfare issues.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995

In April 2001, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) launched a new Incident Contact Centre (ICC) for all incidents currently reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995.

The ICC is a joint venture between the HSE, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Local Government Association (LGA) and it provides a central point for employers, the self employed and those in control of premises to report incidents whether their business is HSE or local authority-enforced.

To report any of the following incidents report online or call the ICC on 0845 300 99 23:

Report an injury
Report a dangerous occurrence
Report an injury offshore
Report a dangerous occurrence offshore
Report a case of disease
Report a flammable gas incident
Report a dangerous gas fitting

Notification of Notifiable Device(s) - Cooling Tower or Evaporative Condensers

Under the provisions of the Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992 which came into force on 2 November 1992 it is the duty of each person who has, to any extent, control of premises to ensure that no “notifiable device” is situated on those premises unless the information set out in the Schedule to these Regulations has been notified in writing to the local authority in whose area the premises are situated. Notification of Notifiable Device(s) - Cooling Tower or Evaporative Condensers.

Asbestos

The asbestos information on the HSE website will be of particular interest to employers, asbestos contractors and others with duties under asbestos regulations, together with those workers currently at greatest risk from exposure to asbestos.

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007

If you are doing or having construction and building work carried out, you will have health and safety responsibilities to consider before starting work.

Clients, designers, contractors and others involved with construction work all have duties under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007).
Under CDM 2007, certain construction work must be notified to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The Health & Safety Executive's website contains further information on all aspects of Health & Safety including the enforcement responsibilities of local authorities and HSE.

For publications and guidance, go to HSE Books website.