Health and Safety Executive

S18 toolkit - Self-assessment guidance

General introduction

Section 18 ToolkitDownload

Use of the guidance

The guidance and criteria outlined in the toolkit should be used in support of the self assessment and peer reviews conducted by regulators of health and safety. This guidance is not a checklist for the creation of an effective regulator. It should also not be taken as an exhaustive list that local regulatory service providers need not consider expanding upon. 

Assuring implementation of Section 18

The Section 18 Standard sets out the duties in health and safety enforcement, and full implementation is expected by March 2011. The Standard applies to local authorities and HSE’s Field Operations Directorate (FOD).

The toolkit is the result of extensive consultation and feedback from a six-month trial.

Implementation will be measured by self assessment, followed by peer review. A Self-assessment table and Peer review guidance have been developed to aid this process.

The Self-Assessment and Peer Review system consists of seven steps:

  1. Enforcing authority (EA) completes self assessment against the S18 Standard’s question sets to help determine level of implementation.
  2. EA develops an action plan to overcome any deficiencies or put in place elements of best practice (progress reviewed annually).
  3. EA records evidence of implementation, where appropriate using self-assessment table.
  4. EA shares its self assessment, action plan and supporting evidence with other EAs within their liaison group.
  5. A peer review within the liaison group challenges the assumptions/conclusions reached by the EA and suggests any necessary revisions to the action plans.
  6. Findings of the self assessment/peer review and progress with action plans are reported to local chief environmental health officer groups.
  7. HSE’s Local Authority Unit will report on national implementation and issues for further consideration to HELA on an annual basis.

Self assessment and peer review will be undertaken in full once every four years and progress on action plans reported annually. A rolling programme of self assessment and peer reviews will be developed if consultation deems it necessary.

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Updated 21.06.11