Health and Safety Executive

Field Operations Directorate (FOD)

Operational Circulars (OCs)

OCs are arranged according to a topic classification system.

General

Primary legislation

[1-9]

Class Definition
OC 1/6 The Working Time Regulations 1998: Guidance on the legislation
OC 1/7 The Working Time Regulations 1998 SI 1998: enforcement guidelines
OC 1/8 Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 (ELCI)
OC 9/4 The Environmental Protection (Control on Hexachloroethane) Regulations 1998

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Administration

[15-126]

Class Definition
OC 18/7(V2) Demarcation between FOD and OSD for inspection of stacked installations
OC 18/11 FOD / HID CI demarcation
OC 18/12 (v2) Matters of Evident Concern and Potential Major Concern
OC 26/10 Contractors - Declaration of Conflict of Interest and Authorising their entry to premises
OC 29/5 Structure of summaries for FCG Reports
OC 31/9 HSE priced publications: initial distribution and ordering of additional copies from HSE Books by FOD offices
OC 34/3 Operational work, research and the welfare of workers
OC 38/2 (rev) Specialist Inspector Reports
OC 70/1 Protective marking of investigation material
OC 74/4(v2) The Bellhouse and Makepeace Trust
OC 83/1 Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC) Knowledge sharing Site (KSS)
OC 84/5 Serious incidents involving agency workers
OC 90/2 Misleading Health and Safety Claims
OC 109/1 Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
OC 110/7 Workplace-based activities for school pupils under 16
OC 110/9 Health and Safety (Training for Employment) Regulations 1990
OC 111/3 Enforcement of regs requiring consultation with employees
OC 124/5 Local authority enforcement: Advice from HSE
OC 124/6 Local authority liaison and FOD's Enforcement Liaison Officers
OC 124/7 Health & Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998
OC 124/8 Health & Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998: use of reg.5 (transfers) and reg.6 (assignments)
OC 124/9 Health & Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998: main activity concept
OC 124/11 Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998: A-Z guide to allocation

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Application of legislation

[130-131]

Class Definition
OC 130/4 Enforcement Management Model - framework for drafting enforcement guidance
OC 130/5 Enforcement Management Model - general guidance on application to health risks
OC 130/6 HSE Enforcement Policy Statement
OC 130/7 Formal Cautions - HSE Guidance
OC 130/8 Prosecuting individuals
OC 130/11 Enforcement management model (emm) application to ionising radiations
OC 130/12 The Victim Personal Statement (VPS) scheme

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Employment

[136-138]

Class Definition

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Legal

[165-190]

Class Definition
OC 165/10 Work-related deaths: liaison with police, prosecuting authorities, local authorities, and other interested authorities including consideration of individual and corporate manslaughter / homicide
OC 167/3 Access to Health Records Act 1990
OC 167/9 Citizen's Charter: Inspector relations with private individuals
OC 167/11 Public registers and databases available to the public in connection with the contained use of genetically modified organisms
OC 167/12 Language Considerations for Management of the Health and Safety of Non-English-Speaking Workers
OC 167/13 Handling race issues encountered during work with external contacts
OC 167/14 Complaints about FOD staff
OC 168/9 Assuring the Independence of Prosecution Decisions
OC 168/11 Conduct of criminal casework – Independent legal oversight – Referral of cases to legal adviser’s office
OC 168/12 Legal Adviser's Office Litigation and Corporate Advisory Division Referral of Cases to Legal Adviser's Office
OC 168/13 Guidance on the Instruction of Solicitors Agents by Inspectors in England and Wales
OC 168/14 Notification of prosecution cases
OC 168/15 Recording prosecutions on the Police National Computer
OC 169/1 Management of costs in Crown Court cases
OC 171/1 Post traumatic stress disorder
OC 183/2 Abstract of Decided Case: Dexter v Tenby Electrical Accessories Ltd
OC 183/3 Abstract of Decided Case: Whitfield v H & R Johnson (Tiles) Ltd
OC 183/4 Abstract of Decided Case: R v Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court ex parte Health and Safety Executive
OC 183/5 Abstract of Decided Case: Ian Peter McKay v Unwin Pyrotechnics Ltd
OC 183/6 Abstract of Decided Case: Lee Ting Sang v Chung Chi-Keung and another
OC 183/7 Abstract of Decided Case: R v Board of Trustees of Science Museum
OC 183/8 Abstract of Decided Case: West Cumberland By Products Ltd v Director of Public Prosecutions
OC 183/9 Abstract of Decided Case: Cullen v N E I Thompson Ltd
OC 183/10 Abstract of Decided Case: R v Shephard
OC 183/11 Abstract of Decided Case: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council v Malrod Insulation Ltd
OC 183/12 Abstract of Decided Case: R v British Steel Plc
OC 183/13 Abstract of Decided Case: R v Associated Octel Ltd
OC 183/14 Abstract of decided case: Chilcott v Thermal Transfer Limited

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Safety, health & welfare

[200-320]

Class Definition
OC 200/30 Safe use of ladders and stepladders
OC 200/31 The work at height regulations 2005
OC 201/7 Portable gas detection instruments and the effect of electromagnetic interference
OC 202/1 Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
OC 202/1 supp 1 Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992: Application to trainees
OC 202/1 supp 2 Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992: Additional briefing on Regulation 5 - eye and eyesight tests
OC 202/1 supp 3 Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992: requirements of the schedule, and use of laptops and non-keyboard inputting devices
OC 205/1 Illegal Employment - Joint Operations with Other Enforcement Agencies
OC 207/2 Revised slips assessment tool for use by HSE and Local Authority field staff and by duty holders
OC 207/3 Requirements for slip-resistant floor finishes under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
OC 208/6 The Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995: Reporting of breathing apparatus malfunctions by Fire Brigades and other users
OC 212/1v2 The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996 No.341)
OC 212/1 supp 1 Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996 No.341): Labelling of pipes
OC 213/2 Work-related violence
OC 216/13 Fire hazards of expanded polystyrene loose fill packaging materials
OC 216/14 Fire testing of bulk textiles and cellular plastics
OC 217/3 Civil proceedings following the fire at Bradford City Football Club
OC 217/5 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, general enforcement guidance and advice
OC 217/6 Fire precautions and liaison between HSE/LA inspectors and fire and rescue authorities
OC224/3 Changes to the training regime for first-aiders in the workplace
OC 232/21 Safety at Passenger Lift Cars without Doors or Gates
OC 232/24 Toe protection at tail lifts
OC 232/25 Lattice gates at entrances of lift cars and lift landings
OC 232/27 Rack and pinion hoists and mast climbing work platforms: The importance of bottom limit switches and buffers
OC 232/29 Lifts - horizontal sliding doors
OC 232/30 Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) publication – guidelines on the supplementary tests of in-service lifts
OC 234/9 Vacuum lifting attachments
OC 234/11 The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
OC 234/12 Vacuum lift tubes
OC 234/13 Safety Inspections of Industrial Lift Trucks: BITA Guidance Note 28
OC 234/14 Industrial Leaf Chains Maintenance and Inspection: BITA Guidance Note 15
OC 234/16 Safe use of magnetic lifting devices
OC 244/5 Provision of occupational health services to employers
OC 246/33 Enforcement Management Model (EMM) - Application to Noise is now covered in Noise Topic Pack, Appendix B
OC 253/9(v2) Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002
OC 253/10 Chemical (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regs 2002 Field Activation Arrangements
OC 253/11 REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) – Guidance on the Regulation
OC 253/12 Arrangements for the enforcement of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)
OC 253/13 Guidance on the interaction between COSHH and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)
OC 255/9 Legionellosis: Routine inspection of water systems incorporating cooling towers and evaporative condensers
OC 255/10 Legionnaires' Disease: Information to the public
OC 255/11 Control of legionella: revised AcoP
OC 255/12 Control of legionella: investigation of outbreaks (and single cases) of legionellosis from water systems incorporating cooling towers and evaporative condensers
OC 255/14 The control of legionella: water treatment companies
OC 265/49 Risk from asbestos in domestic gas appliances
OC 265/50 Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 - General Enforcement Guidance and Advice
OC 267/2 Man-made mineral fibres (MMMF)
OC 267/3 Refractory ceramic fibre - hazards and precautions
OC 268/7 Carcinogenic substances - enforcement policy
OC 270/1 The fire and explosion hazards of carbon disulphide
OC 273/9 Recirculation of workroom air
OC 273/13 Health surveillance requirements of COSHH Reg.11: HSE management of health risks campaign
OC 273/16 (V2) COSHH essentials
OC 273/17 COSHH and substitution
OC 273/18 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations: blasting using silica sand
OC 273/19 Enforcement Management Model (EMM): application to chemical risks
OC 273/20 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regs 2002 - General Enforcement Guidance and Advice
OC 275/3 Hydrogen Cyanide
OC 278/34 (rev) The filling and storage of aerosols with flammable propellants
OC 278/35 Importation of acetylene - Introduction
OC 279/3 Ammonium Nitrate Materials (High Nitrogen Content) Regulations 2003
OC 282/19 supp 1 Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992: Requests for Exemptions
OC 282/28 Fit testing of respiratory protective equipment facepieces
OC 282/27 Head protection for Sikhs wearing turbans
OC 282/30 Inspection of fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope
OC 282/31 Rope evacuation from mechanical handling equipment
OC 283/13 New nomographs for sizing relief for weak dust explosions
OC 283/14 Fire and Explosion Hazards during Pneumatic Discharge of Road Tankers Handling Explosible Dusts
OC 283/15 Rotary valves for dust explosion chokes
OC 283/16 Prevention of fires and explosions in dryers - a user guide
OC 283/17 "Dust Expert" TM
OC 283/18 Fire hazards of unenclosed sock filters used in collection of flammable dusts
OC 284/7 Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 SI 2002/2776
OC 285/6 4,4'- Methylenedianiline (MDA)
OC 285/7 (rev) Revision of Code of Practice CP 18: The safe storage, handling and use of special gases in the micro-electronics industry
OC 285/9 Safe handling of cytotoxic drugs
OC 286/97 Fire protection of LPG storage vessels using thermal insulation materials
OC 286/98 LPGITA CoP 22: LPG piping system - design and installations
OC 286/102 LPG Cylinder De-Denting
OC 287/27 Bulk storage of propylene oxide
OC 287/28 Metering pumps and dispensers to be installed at filling stations and used to dispense liquid fuel
OC 288/5 Inspection Chambers Above Fuel Storage Tanks
OC 288/6 (rev) Asphyxiation hazards in welding and allied processes
OC 292/2 Diesel engine exhaust emissions
OC 293/5 Inspection of workplace storage and dispensing of petroleum spirit and liaison with petroleum licensing authorities
OC 294/46 Henna handling in the cosmetic industry
OC 295/4 Use of explosives in confined spaces: CO poisoning
OC 298/15 The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1998
OC 308/10 (rev) Steam-heated drying cylinders fitted with dished ends: Advice to users
OC 308/13 Pressure Systems and Transportable Gas Containers Regulations 1989
OC 308/14 Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC – Interpretation of Recital No. 5 as implemented by Reg 4(2) of The Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999
OC 311/2 Sick building syndrome - Guidance for specialist inspectors
OC 313/4 Manual handling assessment charts, (MAC), and EMM
OC 313/5 The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended) (MHOR)
OC 314/20 Preventing Falls from Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) and Selection and Use of Fall Protection Equipment
OC 317/4 The Dangerous Substances (notification and marking of sites) Regulations 1990

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Special premises

[330-360]

Class Definition
OC 331/5 The Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations 1996
OC 334/2 Prison service organisation, management and inspection
OC 334/5 Inspection of the Fire Service
OC 349/6 (V2) The Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1992 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 1993
OC 349/10 Primary inspection responsibilities and the use of specialist support for work with biological agents
OC 350/3 Electrophoresis and associated equipment for laboratory use

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Updated 20.02.12