Health and safety legislation
Legislation
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- This is the primary piece of legislation regarding workplace health and safety in the UK. It places a duty on employers to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees at work.
- This includes providing a safe work environment, safe systems of work, safe machinery and substances, necessary information, instruction, training and supervision, a suitable working environment and adequate welfare facilities.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- This legislation requires employers to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, appoint competent people and arrange for appropriate information and training.
- Regularly conducting risk assessments helps identify hazards and evaluate safety measures.
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
- This regulation specify that personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used when risks cannot be adequately controlled in other ways.
- The PPE should be appropriate for the risk, fit the wearer correctly, and be properly maintained and replaced when necessary.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- This legislation places specific obligations on people and companies who own, operate or have control over work equipment. This can include items such as tractors and trailers or horse tack.
- There are requirements to carry out regular inspections and provide proper training for its use.
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013)
- Under this legislation, employers, the self-employed and those in control of premises must report specified workplace incidents.
- This could include work-related deaths, major injuries or 'over-three-day' injuries, work-related diseases, and dangerous occurrences (near miss accidents).
Responsibilities
Employer responsibilities
- Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees.
- They must provide information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of its employees.
Employee responsibilities
- Employees must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what they do at work.
- They must also co-operate with employers and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements.
Safety Measures
Risk Assessment
- Regular risk assessments should be conducted to identify potential hazards in the workplace. These could include analysing equipment safety, working practices or monitoring harmful exposure.
Control Measures
- Once hazards have been identified, control measures should be put in place. These could be in the form of training, protective equipment, or altered working practices.
- Control measures should be reviewed regularly to ensure they are still effective.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- For some activities, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be needed to offer protection against certain hazards. This could include helmets, boots or protective clothing.
- PPE should be suitable for the user and for the purposes for which it is used. Proper training in the use of PPE is required.