Health and Safety Legislation
This page gives a general guidance to some Health & Safety
legislation - please note this is not comprehensive advice. Further
information can be obtained from the Health & Safety
Executive (HSE) or the Office
of Public Sector Information.
The Health & Safety at Work etc
Act 1974
This act aims to secure the health and safety of persons at
work and protect everybody on a work premises from risk. If 5 or
more people (including part-time staff) are employed then the
employer must prepare and regularly revise a Health & Safety
policy in accordance with Section 2(3) of the above act.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations
1999
This act requires an employer to carry out an assessment of
the significant risks within the workplace. Hazards identified
during the risk assessment that present a risk and are not
adequately controlled must be:
- removed, if possible;
- reduced, as far as reasonably practicable; and/or
- adequately controlled.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)
Once reported then the accident is picked up from the RIDDOR
website by us and passed to one of our Environmental Health (Health
& Safety) Officers who will investigate it.
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
These regulations expand on the Health & Safety at Work
etc Act 1974. They are intended to protect the health & safety
of everyone in the workplace and to ensure that welfare facilities
are provided for people at work.
There are 3 key issues of this but are sub-divided into
further categories:
Room
- Ventilation
- Temperature in indoor workplaces
- Lighting
- Cleanliness and waste materials
- Work in hot or cold environments
- Room dimensions and space
- Workstations and seating
Safety
- Transparent or translucent doors, gates or walls and
windows
- Maintenance
- Floors and traffic routes
- Windows that can open freely and the ability to clean them
safely
- Falls and falling objects
- Doors and gates
- Escalators and moving walkways.
Welfare
- Sanitary conveniences and washing facilities
- Drinking water
- Facilities for rest and to eat meals
- Accommodation for clothing and facilities for changing.
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981
Employers are required to provide employees with adequate
equipment, facilities and personnel to enable first aid to be given
when necessary.