Enforcing authorities

This page contains information for other enforcing authorities, such as the police, fire and rescue services and trading standards.

HSE’s Explosives Inspectorate works in partnership with these other enforcing authorities to enforce legislation on explosives in Great Britain.

Separate legislation applies in Northern Ireland.

Who is the enforcing authority?

The table under How to apply for a licence explains who is the enforcing authority by location, activity, and type and quantity of explosives.

What is enforcement?

Enforcement ensures that dutyholders:

• deal immediately with serious risks
• comply with the law and
• are held to account if they fail in their responsibilities

Enforcing authorities may offer dutyholders information and advice, both face to face and in writing. They may warn a dutyholder that, in their opinion, they are failing to comply with the law.

Where appropriate, they may also serve improvement and prohibition notices, withdraw approvals, vary licence conditions or exemptions, issue formal cautions (England and Wales only), and they may prosecute (or report to the Procurator Fiscal with a view to prosecution in Scotland).

For further information relating to the types of enforcement and the procedures involved when enforcement action is taken, please see ‘What to expect when a health and safety inspector calls’.

Information and guidance for enforcing authorities

The following information and guidance has been produced to help enforcing authorities in the enforcement of explosives legislation:

Guidance on the identification of potential matters of evident concern at firework display operators premises

The document helps inspectors appointed by local authorities identify potential matters of concern that may become apparent at inspections of premises licensed or registered by firework display operators.

Guidance on Refusal/Revocation of MSER Registration/Licences and the Appeal Process

Guidance for licensing authorities on the processes involved in refusal, revocation or variation of licences. It also contains information and guidance on the appeals process intended to assist licensing authorities, applicants, licensees and registered persons.    

Guidance for Enforcing Authorities on Enforcement of Regulations on the Storage of Explosives

A guidance pack to help local enforcing authorities enforce the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005.

Summary and Commentary on the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005

A summary and commentary of the Regulations, to be read alongside the Regulations.

Investigating Incidents at Firework Displays A quick reference guidance for police, local authority and HSE enforcement officials on issues that may arise following an incident at a firework display.   

Storage of fireworks in retail premises  

Advice and guidance to retailers and enforcing authorities on the storage of fireworks in roller cages, metal and wooden cupboards.