Advice on Aspects of Health and Safety Law
Health and Safety Law places responsibility on employers to protect their employees from potential hazards and risks in the workplace. However, it also expects employees to take it upon themselves to show initiative in protecting themselves and others around them from danger.
Health and Safety Law relates to all workplaces across the UK
Health and Safety Law ensures all workers have a right to work in places where risks to their health and safety are under control. It helps to prevent you from getting hurt or ill through work. Employers are responsible for governing health and safety for their employees in the workplace.
Our solicitors can help explain the laws and legislations to employers and their employees. We’ll provide you with advice and assistance in implementing them into practice.
Important things to consider:
- Companies have to appoint a competent person with health and safety responsibilities which includes enforcing health and safety law. This can be someone within the workplace, however, it can also be a third party.
- Following Health and Safety Law correctly has many benefits. This includes protection of employees, saving absence, recruitment and insurance costs, protection of reputation and improvements in productivity.
- Health and Safety Law should be covered in employee handbooks and there should be information on these areas in the workplace.
Support and guidance with every stage
Health and Safety Law places a duty on all employers to protect their employees by ensuring the workplace is healthy and safe. To do this employers must;
- Perform risk assessments which involves deciding what the risks and hazards are and precautions everyone can take to stop it.
- Explain to their employees how to control risks and who is responsible for this.
- Consult and work with their employees and their health and safety representatives to protect everyone from harm in the workplace.
- Provide their employees with health and safety training to allow them to do their jobs.
- Give their employees any equipment and protective clothing they may need.
- Enable employees access to toilets, washing facilities and drinking water.
- Provide adequate first-aid facilities.
- Report major injuries and fatalities at work.
- Have insurance covers
Employees also play a role in ensuring the health and safety of their workplace and of those around them. Employees should;
- Follow the training they’ve had when performing any work activities using work equipment.
- Take reasonable care of your own and other people’s health and safety.
- Co-operate with their employers on health and safety.
- Tell their employer or another authority figure if you have reason to believe there are inadequate health and safety precautions putting others at serious risk.
There is a variety of different health and safety laws and legislations. This includes;
- The Health and Safety Executive is part of the UK government which is responsible for enforcing health and safety at work legislation. This includes producing advice on health and safety issues and guidance on legislation.
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the main UK health and safety legislation. It ensures all employers follow their duty of ensuring the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work. Additionally, employer must keep a written record of health and safety policy.
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 ensures employers assess and manage the risks to their employees and others as a result of work activities. This can include making arrangements for emergencies and providing information and training for employees.
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. This requires employers, self-employed individuals and those in control of premises to report work-related deaths, major injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences.
- The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 relate to the working environment. Employers must ensure the workplace is safe and suitable with no risks for the tasks they carry out there. This legislation covers all aspects of the working environment.
There are many more, all of which are constantly updating and changing. For example, Health and Safety Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992, The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, The Manual handling Operations Regulations 1992 and The Working Time Regulations 1998 etc.