Health and Safety Act 1974

What does it mean to me and the place where I work?

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Act 1974 is a fundamental piece of legislation and is protected by law

Your employer has a duty to protect you and keep you informed about health and safety

You have a responsibility to look after yourself

If there is a problem, discuss it with your employer

Look at the HSE web site for more information

Employers duties

• Making your work place safe• Ensuring equipment you are using is safe• Ensuring substances are stored correctly• Providing adequate welfare facilities• Making sure you are not lifting anything heavy• Providing you with information/instruction or

training and supervision necessary for your safety

Your employer

• Assesses the risk to your health and safety• Have a health and safety policy if more than

five employees• Appoint a health and safety representative• Set up emergency and first aid procedures• Provide PPE’s free• Avoid hazardous operations or exposure • Report any safety issues

Now think of your work place what are the hazardous?

The buildings

Are you trained

The environment

The equipment

COSHH 2002

What does COSHH stand for?

Employers have to protect employees who may be exposed to hazardous substances

Employers should have a policy which should provide guidance to ensure staff have an understanding of handling substances.

COSHH what does it cover

Chemicals

Drugs and medication

Spillages of bodily fluid

In your group discuss

How can it affected your

health?

What can you do about it?

Can it be prevented?

How should it be assessed?

Manual Handling 2002

This piece of legislations covers a wide range of activities including

Lowering

Pulling

Carrying a person or object

Lifting

Manual Handling

• Manual handling injuries can occur in work (use the HSE web site for more detail)

• Incorrect lifting account for approximately 25% of all injuries in 2008

• Preventative methods need to be in place• The risk needs to be assessed and avoid all

manual handling where the risk of injury ‘so far as it is reasonably practical’ (HSE)

Regulations require employers to

AVOID

ASSESS

REDUCE

Manual handling

How is this done in your work place?

RIDDOR 1995

What is RIDDOR?• It is a reportable event, that must be recorded

DeathMajor injury

Dangerous occurrenceInfectious disease/event

RIDDOR

How does your workplace comply

with RIDDOR