Watching a popular consumer TV programme last night, video of a company "At work" was broadcast. Their "Work methods" were immediately highlighted as breaching the WAH regs. What is happening in this or similar cases I wonder? Are the HSE allowed to follow these cases up or will the company get away with this action? will other companies who seem to use the correct work methods end up paying the cost in terms of lost orders and these rogue firms continue putting their employees at risk?

I was watching the same programme! You would hope that the producers would send their files to ALL relevant authorities (i.e. trading standards etc. which should include the HSE / local authority environmental health department where H&S breaches are identified). I'd be surprised if they didn't as they are all about catching the rogues and protecting the consumer. Whether the SHE would act upon such information, I'm less sure, though I'd be relatively confident that LA Environmental Health would follow up (based on my experiences of them following up on much less serious issues!!).

Wasn't a stone mason recently nicked, after HSE saw them on the box?

PHIL There have been instances where HSE have taken enforcement action against companies and individuals with poor health and/or safety standards which have come to light through being featured on TV. One example I recall from some time ago was of a firm which had little or no control of significant quantities of airborne dust containing respirable crystalline silica produced during work with stone. I think I saw the tail end of the programme you mentioned where a presenter (with a surname which sounds like a synonym of 'okay') was bravely challenging (harassing?) the boss of the firm involved. Though it's not part of HSE's remit to have inspectors watching TV for firms and people committing breaches of OS&H legislation, it seems that inspectors may well be interested in following up tip-offs/complaints from viewers. Nowadays, inspectors have the advantage that TV programmes showing unsafe practices tend to remain available for viewing via the internet for a while (7days?) after they have been broadcast. Also, following Jake's comments, some programme makers do work with or at least inform local authority (LA) trading standards departments. Perhaps they should be encouraged to include HSE and safety inspectors with LA environmental health depts as well, even though they're under no obligation to do so. Remember that their overriding remit is to make entertaining/horrifying and/or informative TV programmes.

I know Granada employ a H&S person to go on set on most of the programmes they do because I applied for the post some years back.