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.