Workplace regulations
Employers have a responsibility to ensure the health and safety of themselves and all their employees, customers and visitors. They must also look after the welfare at work of their employees. Health and safety risks arising from work activity must be properly managed. This can be done by:
- carrying out risk assessments of what, in the work place, could cause harm to people so that a decision can be made as to whether the precautions in place comply with the law or whether more must be done to prevent harm.
- making arrangements for implementing the health and safety measures as identified in the risk assessment process.
- preparing a written health and safety policy if there are five or more employees
- appointing competent people to assist in the management of health and safety at work
- establishing emergency procedures
- informing, instructing, training and supervising employees on work place activities, risks present and the arrangements in place to control or reduce them.
- co-operating with other employers sharing the same workplace.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 lays down basic requirements for the workplace, and there are many sets of regulations covering specific issues such as electricity in the workplace and what to do about asbestos. General requirements for the workplace are included in the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and their approved code of practice, which can be obtained from the Government Bookshop
For further information about the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 visit the Health & Safety Executive website. contact the HSE Infoline on 0845 345 0055, or call Health & Safety at Barnet on 020 8359 7995 for an information pack.
Email this pageLast modified by: Ben Goodson on 14/11/2008