Posted By Kenneth Patrick A question for Local authority colleagues. How often and on what basis would you inspect sports clubs that are run by their members? Ken

Posted By Andy Barr Kenneth, If there's no employment there should be no interventions by the Enforcing Authorities - either HSE Inspectors or LA EHOs, though there are riders to this general presumption. See http://www.hse.gov.uk/fo...fod/oc/300-399/331_3.pdf and http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/23-15.htm (see Clubs (Private)) Andy

Posted By Graham Bullough Ken EHOs tend to belong to CIEH - The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, though some could well be members of IOSH as well. In any event, some EHOs probably have a look at this forum from time to time - as can anybody else with internet access. I've just had a look at the CIEH website at http://www.cieh.org/ but can't readily find any open forum like this one. Thus, turning back to your original posting, if you've got queries about any aspects of a sports club, try phoning your local authority's environmental health department. p.s. CIEH is an "institute" while IOSH and other professional bodies like the one for civil engineers are "institutions". Can anyone throw any light on the difference, if any - apart from the spelling, between the two words? To be gently provocative, could it be that institutions are superior in one or more respects to institutes?!

Posted By Glyn Atkinson Response to Phil - if the conditions are that bad, would it not be appropriate to inform the HSE directly in regard to your concerns, or maybe if not wanting to be controversial, first write directly to the manager of the centre or an area senior manager of a parent company, if one exists.

Posted By alan noble Ken Firstly if the LA knows that you exist then.... LA enforced premises may be subject to a visit under a planned programme of inspections (prioritised by a risk rating system). What happens under the risk rating system is that premises do not routinely get biannual, annual or quinquennial visits. The next inspection is dependant on the findings of the previous inspection. The initial inspection to get you 'on the system' can be a visit or a desk-top assessment from known information. Visits may be done following complaints(employee or public) or reports under RIDDOR. Premises could be visited as part of special interventions, surveys or enforcement initiatives. So you don't have a situation where you can say that because you are a generic sports club you must be visited every X years beginning this year or next. It is simply a case that you may be at some point, resources permitting. To paraphrase the Pythons'No-one expects the LA inspectors'however unlike the Spanish Inquisition we are likely to call and make an appointment first........AND OF COURSE IF YOU WANT LA TO VISIT YOU CAN ALWAYS INVITE THEM!

Posted By Kenneth Patrick Thanks for your responses. If a sports clubs has showers then they will only have to comply with H&S law and L8 if they employ someone, even if that is say a groundsman to cut the grass. On the other hand L8 will not apply to these same showers and they will not get any LA inspections if there is no such employment. Am I right? and Is this right?

Posted By Barry x A lot will depend on the resources and priorities of any particular LA. Previous responders are correct about risk scores being used to work out frequency of inspection! Phone your friendly Local Authority and I am sure they will be willing to help, either that or send in an FOI request!!