Health and safety legislation
Health and Safety Legislation
The Health and Safety at Work Act (HASWA) 1974
- Employers must take necessary steps to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their staff and the public.
- The act also makes employees responsible for their own safety and that of others by not misusing or abusing equipment and systems put in place.
Food Safety Act 1990
- This act makes it an offence to sell or serve food unfit for human consumption.
- It also prohibits providing misleading food descriptions – everything you serve must be properly labelled and advertised.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations 1992
- Employers must provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to employees exposed to risks to their health and safety.
- Employees must also be trained on how to properly use and maintain their PPE.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
- It requires businesses to control substances that are harmful to workers' health, including cleaning chemicals and certain ingredients.
- Risk assessments must be undertaken and control measures implemented and maintained.
Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991
- Every food business must be registered with the local authority.
- The authorities carry out regular inspections to ensure businesses adhere to food hygiene regulations.
Food Hygiene Regulations 2006
- Places a duty on businesses to ensure all food handlers are properly trained in food safety.
- Food storage, preparation, cooking and serving areas must be kept clean and well maintained.
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) 2013
- Employers are required to report work-related accidents, diseases, and dangerous occurrences.
- This includes serious injury, disease or death caused by occupational hazards.
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Employers must carry out risk assessments to identify hazards and implement controls to reduce risks.
- They must also provide information, instruction and training to ensure the safety of their employees.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
- Employers must reduce the risk of injury from manual handling, such as lifting or moving heavy items, to as low as is reasonable.
- Training and instruction on safe manual handling techniques must be provided to employees.
In all times, it is crucial to keep updated with any changes, amendments or new regulations as they are accountable by law.