Last year, 229 people were killed as a result of accidents at work. Over 108,000 people suffered a serious injury at work and over 2000 people died from occupationally related lung disease. UK health & safety law is there to prevent such accidents and injuries. But what is health and safety legislation all about?
Health and safety legislation is there to prevent such losses.
Employers Duties in UK Health & Safety Law
Although any form of legislation at first seems complicated, in fact, the law is very straight forward.
Health and safety legislation basically requires employers to put in place ‘control measures’ to ensure that five basic criteria have been met.
Control Measures
These criteria are known as the Employers Duties, requiring employers to ensure that:-
- Work equipment that has been provided is safe and is maintained in a safe condition.
- Chemicals and other substances are stored, handled and used safely.
- People are provided with enough information, instruction and training in the tasks that they are being asked to do.
- There is good access to and from the workplace. In particular, escape routes should be clear from debris and that good housekeeping standards are maintained.
- The working environment is kept safe and healthy.
Safe Work Equipment
Work equipment must be maintained in a safe condition. Faulty equipment should never be used by anyone at work. So it is essential that equipment gets checked on a regular basis.
What do we Mean by Checking Equipment?
Checking equipment depends on the equipment and how it is used.
For example, a photocopier in an office is plugged into the mains electrical supply, and remains in one place. That means it would be safe for that item of equipment to receive basic electrical checks once every three years.
An electrical check means checking the earth supply, and ensuring that cables and the plug are in good condition. This is also known as PAT testing.
However, an electric drill used on a construction site will suffer much more rigorous use than a photocopier. That means it would be better for this equipment to have more frequent checks. This might be on a daily basis before it is used.
If the equipment is used often it might be sensible for it to be checked annually by an electrician.
Use of Chemicals
There are hundreds of different chemicals used in the workplace, and each one presents a different risk.
If a chemical is hazardous, the supplier should have provided a Material Data Sheet (MDS). This has information about the chemical and how it should be stored and used.
The MDS will detail the type of protective clothing that should be used when handling the chemical e.g. gloves, apron, goggles. Employers have a legal duty to ensure that MDS are available in the workplace. They must also make sure that workers know how to interpret the information in it.
Staff Training in Health and Safety
All employees should be given health and safety training in the workplace. As a minimum, new employees must be given an induction, which should cover topics such as:-
- How to report an accident.
- Responding in the event of a fire.
- How to use equipment safely.
- Who to contact if there is a health and safety issue.
- How to find information relating to health and safety.
Employees should be trained in the precautions needed when working with hazardous material, equipment. They should also be aware of safety procedures for jobs that have significant risks associated with them.
Our guide on how to get industry accredited health & safety qualifications can help anyone interested in professional development.
Escape Routes and Housekeeping
A third of workplace accidents result from poor housekeeping standards. Debris, tools and equipment not tidied away properly, and general office clutter all contribute to accidents at work.
It is important that people are able to escape from their workplace in the event of an emergency. Therefore, all fire routes and fire doors should be kept clear of rubbish. These areas should never be used to store consumables or items of equipment. Fire escape routes should be properly marked, with adequate lighting and clear fire safety signs to help people escape quickly. Workplace fire safety is an integral part of UK health and safety law.
Working Environment
It is important that the working environment is kept in a healthy condition. This involves good standards of lighting, heating and ventilation. Eye strain can be prevented if lighting is right for the task.
For example, people working in fine detail need bright but even illumination. Those working with machinery need lighting that is low in contrast. People need to be comfortable, so the workplace temperature should be comfortable for the job that is being done.
By sticking to the duties of employers, the workplace can be maintained in a healthy and safe condition. This will make sure accidents and ill health are kept to a minimum.
Further Reading
- What to expect when the health & safety inspector visits. Our guide outlines what an inspection involves, and what powers the inspector has.
