The Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974

UK Health and Safety Regulations

UK Legislation

EC Directives

EC Legislation

Elma Graham

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

Employers’ Responsibilities:

• make sure that the workplace is safe• control dust, fumes and noise levels• look after employees welfare eg health checks• provide protective clothing and equipment• controlling dangerous substances and emissions• provide first aid facilities• keep records of accidents and injuries• prepare a health and safety policy

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

Employees’ Responsibility

• take care of their own health and safety• take care of other peoples’ health and safety– work with the employer to maintain health and

safety, eg attending training courses– no interference or misuse of anything provided

to protect H&SW

Health And Safety(Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

Employers Must:• Make sure that workstations and equipment

meet minimum requirements• Make sure that employees have built in

breaks or changes of activity• Train employees in health and safety• Check that equipment is safe• Provide eyesight tests and glasses if needed

for VDU work• Provide information about Display Screen

Equipment Regulations

Legislation – Health and Safety 6 pack

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

• Health and Safety (First Aid) Regs• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs• Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipt) Regs• Fire Precautions (Workplace) (Amended) Regs• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous

Occurrences Regs (RIDDOR)• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

(COSHH)

Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981

• Employers must provide enough first aid qualified people for their business

• The Health and Safety Executive must approve any first aid training and qualifications

Health & Safety at Work Act 1974Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs

PREMISES• Floors, corridors must be kept clean, level and unbrokenFIRST AID• First aid box must be provided• Trained first aiders must be availableSEATING• Adequate seating must be providedSPACE/STORAGE• Adequate space for each person• Storage space for work/outdoor clothing for each worker

Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs

LIGHTING• Natural light or adequate artificial lightTEMPERATURE

• Minimum temperature of 60.8 oF• Windows must be opened or suitable ventilation eg fans etcTOILET FACILITIES

• There must be toilets available• They must be kept clean and well maintained• Hot and cold water, soap and towels must be available• Drinking water available

Display screen– Characters should be well-defined and clearly

formed

– The image should be stable, with no flickering

– The brightness and the contrast between the characters and the background should be adjustable

– The screen should swivel and tilt easily and freely to suit the needs of the user

– There should be a separate base for the screen or an adjustable table

– The screen shall be free of reflective glare

Health And Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

Employees must:

• Make full use of the VDU adjustments eg colour, contrast

• Avoid possible health hazards, eg use back/height adjustments on chairs

Spot the hazards

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)

• Employers must report certain injuries, accidents or incidents within 7-10 days to the Health and Safety executive

• Employers can be fined for failing to report

Accident ReportingEmployees should :-

◦Report all accidents (Accident Book)◦Report all dangerous occurrences including near

misses◦A near miss is defined as an event that could have

caused injury, damage or loss but in this case didn’t

Consult their GP and their employer if diagnosed as suffering from a disease that might be related to their work activity.

Failure to complyEmployee can receive

• Verbal warning

• Written warning

• Suspended

• Dismissed

• Referred to Police

• Fine

• Criminal or civil prosecution

Health and Safety Commission Health and Safety Commission

Health and Safety ExecutiveH S E

E n fo rcesL a w s an d R eg u la tio ns

Em ploym ent MedicalA dv iso ry se rv ice

E M A S

Health and Safety Com missionH S E

M a ke s th e la w sa nd re gu la tions

Inspectors can visit organisations at any time, with or without warning, and have the power to:• provide advice• issue warnings, including notice to improve (within a fixed time)• immediately shut down operations without notice.

Penalties for organisations who fail to comply with the above can include fines or imprisonment.

ENFORCEMENT

•Health and Safety Inspectorate

– PROHIBITION NOTICE– IMPROVEMENT NOTICE– PROSECUTE

• FINE OR• IMPRISONMENT up to two years

Test your knowledge

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ema_uk_he_willey_employaw_3/112/28862/7388875.cw/content/index.html

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