If HSE Walked In Today, What Would They Notice First?

Most businesses don’t think about the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) until something goes wrong. But inspections can happen with little warning. So, if an inspector walked through your door today…
what would they notice first?

Let’s step into their shoes.

1. Your attitude to safety

Before they even look at paperwork, an inspector observes behaviour.

They’ll notice:

• Whether staff follow safety procedures

• If managers take concerns seriously

• How hazards are dealt with in real time

A strong safety culture stands out immediately.
So does a careless one.

Inspectors aren’t just checking compliance – they’re judging mindset.

2. The physical environment

Next, they’ll scan your workspace.

Common red flags:

• Blocked fire exits

• Trailing cables

• Poor lighting

• Overloaded sockets

• Untidy walkways

• Missing safety signage

They’ll also check:

• Fire extinguishers

• First aid provision

• Emergency routes

• Housekeeping standards

A safe workplace looks safe.

3. Risk assessments – are they real?

Having documents isn’t enough.

Inspectors will ask:

• When was this last reviewed?

• Does it reflect your actual work?

• Have employees seen it?

Copy-paste templates don’t impress.
They want evidence of:

• Site-specific risks

• Regular updates

• Actions taken

A good HSE workplace inspection focuses on what you do, not what you say.

4. Training records

They’ll check if staff are trained properly.

This includes:

• Fire safety

• Manual handling

• DSE assessments

• First aid

• Role-specific risks

Expect questions like:

• Who was trained?

• When?

• By whom?

Outdated or missing records are a major warning sign.

5. Employee knowledge

Inspectors often speak directly to staff.

They might ask:

• What would you do in an emergency?

• Where’s the assembly point?

• Who’s your first aider?

• How do you report a hazard?

If employees can’t answer, that’s a problem.

Good safety training shows in confident responses.

6. Accident reporting & investigations

They’ll want to see:

• Accident logs

• Near-miss reports

• Investigation outcomes

They’re looking for:

• Patterns

• Root causes

• Preventative actions

Ignoring near misses is a missed opportunity to prevent serious incidents.

7. Mental health support

Modern inspections don’t ignore wellbeing.

They may look at:

• Workload management

• Stress policies

• Absence trends

• Manager training

Psychological safety is now part of overall compliance.

8. Leadership involvement

One big question:

Does management lead by example?

Inspectors notice:

• Whether leaders follow rules

• How safety is discussed

• If improvements are funded

A disengaged leadership team sends a clear message – and not a good one.

What would your inspection outcome be?

If HSE arrived today, would they see:

✔ Clear safety procedures
✔ Engaged employees
✔ Up-to-date risk assessments
✔ Visible leadership commitment
✔ A safe, organised workspace

Or:

❌ Cluttered exits
❌ Outdated policies
❌ Confused staff
❌ Training gaps

Final thought

An HSE workplace inspection isn’t about catching you out.
It’s about preventing harm. The best businesses don’t prepare for inspections, they’re ready all year round.