Health and Safety
Employer Cares
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc, Act 1974, Section 2 provides that “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure; so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees.” Also under section 2, Subsection 2 provides that the employers duty extends to include (so far as is reasonable): maintenance of systems that are safe and without risks to health; safety and absence of risk to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substance; training and supervision to ensure the health and safety of employees; maintenance of access to work places; and maintenance of a working environment (Section 2(2)a),b),c),d),e).
Source: §1-2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
Free Protection
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 seeks to ensure that where the risks cannot be controlled by other means, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is correctly selected and used. Items of PPE (Safety spectacles, goggles, face-shields, visors; helmets, hard hats and bump caps, etc.) have to be provided by the employer to the workers free of charge. Employer is further required to train the workers on the use of PPE and employees must have the equipment readily available, or at the very least have clear instructions on where they can obtain it.
Source: §2(2e) & Schedule III of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act; Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
Training
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2(2)c) provides that “the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees. In addition, Section 2 subsection 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 provides a duty of every employer to prepare and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees and the organization and arrangements for the time being in force for carrying out that policy, and to bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of all of his employees.
Source: §2(2c & 3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
Labour Inspection System
Section 10(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 provides that a body corporate to be known as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shall exist to focus on ensuring on that employers provide adequate training and supervision for their employees. HSE inspectors have a wide range of powers enabling them to inspect premises, serve improvement notices and other notices to ensure employers stick to the HSE’s codes of practice.
Source: §10-14 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
Regulations on Health and Safety
- Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
