Safety Advice for New Businesses

Do I need to register my premises?

From 6 April 2009 employers no longer have to register premises in which their employees work with either the Local Authority or the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). However, you may still need to register or notify to do some specific activities. These include:

Construction

• Obtain planning permission

• Get building control approval

• Certain types of work with asbestos

• Construction projects lasting more that 30 days or involving more than 500 person days

 Materials Handling

• The installation and operation of a water-based cooling tower
  
• The carriage of dangerous substances or goods
  
• The storage of poisons
  
• Storage of explosives
  
• Storage of fireworks
  
• The production and storage of hazardous materials
  
• Permission to pollute the environment

Beauty / Cosmetic Industry

• Hairdresser Registration
  
• Tattooing Registration
  
• Electrolysis Registration
  
• Acupuncture Practice Registration
  
• Cosmetic (Body) Piercing Registration
  
• The use of lasers

Food Industry

• Selling food to the public
  
• Approval to manufacture of meat, fish or dairy products

Sports Ground

• Use of some sports ground stands and stadiums
  

Premises Licence: are defined in the Licensing Act 2003 and cover three types of activity:

• the sale or supply of alcohol
  
• late night refreshment (any hot food or drink between 23:00 and 05:00)
  
• regulated entertainment (including music, dance, films, plays, indoor sport and similar entertainment)

Where can I get more information on starting a new business?

If your thinking of starting a new business, there are a lot of different considerations that you need to make. A good place to start is the local business link service who are able to offer specific business advice.

Why do I not need to register my premises anymore?

New rules have removed the requirements to register under the Factories Act 1961 and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963.