Working practices

By the end of the lesson you should be able to:

distinguish between employer’s and employees’ responsibilities and duties

identify ways of communicating health and safety information

state various piece of legislation

demonstrate knowledge of consequences to employer and employee of not adhering to legislation.

Employers and employees have a duty of responsibility.

In general, the employer's duties include:

■ making the workplace safe and without risks to health

■ ensuring plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed

■ ensuring articles and substances are moved, stored and used safely

■ providing adequate welfare facilities

■ giving the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary for employee health and safety.

In particular, an employer must:

■ assess the risks to health and safety

■ implement the health and safety measures identified by assessment

■ if there are five or more employees, draw up a health and safety policy statement, including the health and safety arrangements in force, and bring it to the attention of employees

■ appoint someone to assist with health and safety responsibilities.

Employees have legal duties too. They include:

■ taking reasonable care of own health and safety and that of others

■ cooperating with the employer on health and safety

■ correctly using work items provided by the employer, including personal protective equipment, in accordance with training or instructions

■ not interfering with or misusing anything provided for health, safety or welfare.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/law.pdf

Legislation is enforced by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).Health & Safety at Work Act (1987) – Updated by Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

This is primary legislation, covering minimum standards that have to be followed, including:

qualified first-aid personsuitable first-aid equipment.

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

Covers the use of VDUs in the workplace.

RIDDOR (1995)(Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and

Dangerous Occurrences Regulations )

COSSH (2002)(Control of Substances Hazardous

to Health Regulations)

Induction trainingIntranetNotice boardsStaff development trainingStaff meeting

Reported to the HSE, who can:

enter and inspect premisesissue improvement noticesinterview people and give warningsclose down premisesfine or prosecute.

Disciplinary procedures:

verbal warningwritten warningsuspensionfinedismissalcriminal or civil prosecution.

Visit the HSE website. Follow links to find out what procedures need to be followed to report an incident at work.

Design an A4 poster showing these procedures.

Research three health and safety breaches and present on a PowerPoint on them.