Health and safety matters affect everyone, people and businesses across Dudley and beyond.
We deal with complaints over a wide range of matters. For example, we often receive complaints about:
- lack of staff training
- unsafe equipment
- unsafe stacking of stock
- lack of hot water in staff facilities
- working conditions (temperature, lighting, equipment)
See also accidents and injuries in the workplace
We will investigate your complaint with two main aims:
- To identify and prevent risks to public health and safety
- To investigate health and safety offences and take steps to secure compliance
How to make a complaint
Use our Health and Safety Complaint form and include as much detail as possible.
An officer is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. We usually respond within five working days, or sooner if it’s urgent.
What happens next?
Within five working days we will:
- confirm your complaint details
- give an initial assessment
- tell you how to stay in touch
Some cases may be referred to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if they fall outside our responsibility.
Information we need
When we contact you we may ask for:
- name and address of the workplace
- If the risk is happening now (or when it occurred)
- how long and how often it happens
- who is at risk
- any extra details or descriptions
Your complaint could lead to legal action, so we may ask for witness statements.
How we investigate
- We may call the business and ask them to fix the problem
- If needed, we will visit the premises
- If health and safety laws are being broken, we will make sure the issue is corrected
- If everything meets legal standards, we can only suggest improvements (not enforce them)
Investigation times
Investigations can take days or months. Cases involving enforcement action may take over a year.
Possible outcomes
Our main goal is to make unsafe conditions safe. If an offence has been committed, we may take enforcement action.
You will be told the outcome and why we made that decision.
Your protection
Your identity will be kept confidential unless you agree to share it (for example, if a business wants to apologise).
UK law offers strong protection for whistle-blowers.
Compensation
We cannot advise on compensation claims. For legal advice, contact Citizens Advice.