Final slice of health and safety Cake

A series of inspections taking place across a south-east county have been completed, ending a three-week initiative.

The Common Approach to Kent Enterprise (Cake) scheme has been run by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in conjunction with the county council.

In its third and final week, these two organisations inspected a further 79 premises across the region and issued 32 notices.

This brings the total number of premises inspected to 338, with 86 of these receiving either improvement or prohibition notices.

Concentrating on working at height, slips and trips and manual handling, the final phase of the initiative examined businesses in Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet.

Mike Walters, the HSE's HM principal inspector for Kent, claims a number of dutyholders in the county were putting their employees at risk.

He states: "The project has been successful as it has drawn on the experience and expertise of health and safety professionals … to increase the impact of the inspection campaign."

Mr Walters claims businesses in Kent should continue to ensure they are complying with health and safety legislation, calling on firms which are unsure how to do so seeking help.

In recent news, the HSE carried out an inspection in the Waltham Forest borough which led to the issuing of prohibition notices to 12 out of the 16 businesses it visited.