This Act sets the framework for the management of occupational health and safety in the United Kingdom. Health and Safety Executive – Health and Safety Legislation – Workplace Laws Failure to comply with health and safety laws may result in civil and criminal penalties. If a person as an employer has a workplace accident or falls ill, a health and safety authority can sue that employer for a crime, and/or the person who was injured or became ill can bring a civil action for damages. No one needs to be injured for a health and safety violation. The risk of harm is sufficient for a crime. It imposes a general duty on employers to ensure the health, safety and well-being of all persons at work. Personal protective equipment that must be provided may include face masks, visors, helmets, goggles, gloves, hearing protectors, coveralls, safety boots, air filters and hair nets. In addition, employers must: For workplaces with five or more employees, employers must keep a written record of their health and safety policies and consult with workers on relevant health and safety policies and precautions. Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) – Information and resources, as well as a free health and safety helpline This is the fundamental part of health and safety law on which other laws are based. Our health and safety advisors can provide expert advice on compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1974.
DEVERY, H. (2019) Does health and safety legislation work? Human resources management (online). June 19. Imposes an obligation on employers or building occupants to make effective fire safety management arrangements. The objective of health and safety legislation is to ensure a safe working environment for employees. In the UK, this obliges employers to comply with health and safety obligations covered by a wide range of legislation. Our other fact sheets on workplace wellbeing, occupational health, mental health and stress cover these specific areas. The Act sets out the general obligations of everyone, from employers (section 2) and employees (section 7.8) to owners, managers and maintainers of workspaces (etc.) to maintain health and safety in most workplaces. Employers must ensure that health, safety and welfare information is made available to workers through the Health and Safety Act poster – what should you know? In the workplace, the employer is the “responsible person”. In order to reduce or eliminate the risk of fire and to identify persons at risk, the person in charge is required to monitor fire safety and carry out a fire risk assessment. The responsible person may appoint a “competent person” in this role, but the ultimate responsibility rests with the employer. The current challenge is to implement effective hybrid work, including returning people to work while managing workplace safety.
The Occupational Health and Safety Management Regulations, 1999 set out what employers must do to manage health and safety under the HSWA. An employer must assess whether they have taken sufficient precautions to avoid damage and injury. For more information on how employers should support the health and wellbeing of their employees, visit our Coronavirus Response Hub. The ESD regulations define affected workers as those who use EHR daily for one hour or more at a time. This includes those who work with computers, laptops, and smartphones. Employers must take steps to protect these workers from the health risks associated with VDU work. The main pieces of legislation dealing with various aspects of health and safety are the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1974 and the Occupational Health and Safety Management Regulations 1999. These two standards set the standard for all health and safety matters in the UK workplace.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1974 requires all businesses in the United Kingdom to provide all information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety of workers. In addition, as part of employee health and safety management, employers are required by law to conduct a risk assessment of hazards relevant to their workplace. Arnite`s AFS 0040 Compliance Fact Sheet will be helpful in explaining compliance – there are over 70 out of 75 Arinite fact sheets and more than various health and safety topics. HASAW is based on common sense and safe practice. It requires employers to take responsibility for the health and safety of their employees at work “to the extent reasonably practicable.” SUNDERLAND, B. (2017) Ensuring legal certainty for gig economy workers.