What is Health and Safety
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 , also referred to as HASAW or HSW, is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in the United Kingdom.
The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing the Act and a number of other Acts and Statutory Instruments relevant to the working environment.
Take a look at the Fatal injury statistics from RIDDOR: Full-year details for 2010/11 from HSE.
Besides the Health and Safety at Work Act itself, the following apply across the full range of workplaces:
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999: require employers to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, appoint competent people and arrange for appropriate information and training.
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992: cover a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare issues such as ventilation, heating, lighting, workstations, seating and welfare facilities.
- Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992: set out requirements for work with Visual Display Units (VDUs).
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992: require employers to provide appropriate protective clothing and equipment for their employees.
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998: require that equipment provided for use at work, including machinery, is safe.
- Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992: cover the moving of objects by hand or bodily force.
- Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981: cover requirements for first aid.
- The Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989: require employers to display a poster telling employees what they need to know about health and safety.
- Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969: require employers to take out insurance against accidents and ill health to their employees.
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR): require employers to notify certain occupational injuries, diseases and dangerous events.
- Noise at Work Regulations 1989: require employers to take action to protect employees from hearing damage.
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989: require people in control of electrical systems to ensure they are safe to use and maintained in a safe condition.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH): require employers to assess the risks from hazardous substances and take appropriate precautions.
The words Hazard and risk are used throughout this microsite. Hazard means anything that can cause harm (chemicals, electricity, working from ladders etc..). Risk is the chance, high or low, that someone will be harmed by the hazard.
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