Report a health and safety concern in your workplace

About workplace health and safety

Everyone has the right to a safe working environment.  

Employers should proactively: 

• manage risks
• provide health and safety training
• maintain equipment and safety gear, such as personal protective equipment
• protect employees mental health, for example, preventing violence and stress at work 

If you have a health and safety concern in your workplace, you can report it for investigation. 

Who enforces health and safety in the workplace

Depending on the type of workplace, enforcing health and safety is split between us and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). 

Our responsibilities 

In general, we’re responsible for enforcing lower risk activities and workplaces, such as: 

• offices
• restaurants
• shops
• most care home activities
• other high street premises 

Most employees will not face significant hazards as part of their day-to-day work in these premises. But there are some risks that may be present, such as: 

• exposure to carbon monoxide
• stress
• violence
• aches and pains, such as back pain or repetitive strain injury (RSI) 

HSE responsibilities

In general, the HSE is responsible for enforcing higher risk activities and workplaces, such as: 

• construction sites
• manufacturers
• council premises and activities 

Check who to report to

The HSE has a useful summary of who to contact with workplace concerns. 

Check who to report health and safety concerns to 

Report a concern

If HSE are the appropriate enforcement authority for your workplace, tell them about the health and safety issue. 

If we’re the appropriate enforcement authority for your workplace, tell us about the health, safety or welfare concern.  

Email us at workplace.safety@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or call us on 020 8921 5702. 

We’ll give you advice and assess whether the concern needs further investigation.