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Reporting a risk

If a worker notices a health and safety risk at work, they must do all they reasonably can to:

  • avoid the risk
  • reduce the risk in a safe way
  • report the risk to the most appropriate person

A health or safety risk is something that might cause harm to someone. Find examples of common workplace risks from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

If a worker is in serious or imminent danger

If a worker is in serious and imminent danger and they cannot safely remove the risk, they can either:

  • leave the work area
  • leave the workplace
  • refuse to return to work

If someone takes one of these actions, they might be protected from dismissal or detriment.

Reporting a risk

To report a health and safety risk, a worker should:

  • speak to a health and safety representative
  • speak to their employer, if there are no representatives
  • follow any procedure their organisation has for reporting health and safety risks

If a worker reports a risk, the employer must take it seriously and take action to protect everyone at work. The employer should let the worker know what action they took and why.

Workers can also report health and safety issues to the Health and Safety Executive or their local authority if:

  • they've raised the issue with their employer
  • their employer has not responded or taken any action

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