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The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
An Act to make further provision for securing the health,
safetyand welfare of persons at work, for protecting others against
risksto health or safety in connection with the activities of
persons atwork, for controlling the keeping and use and preventing
theunlawful acquisition, possession and use of dangeroussubstances,
and for controlling certain emissions into theatmosphere; to make
further provision with respect to theemployment medical advisory
service; to amend the law relating tobuilding regulations, and the
Building (Scotland) Act 1959; and forconnected purposes.
Work Place Regulations 1992
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992and
their associated Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) andguidance (Ref
1) clarify and consolidate existing law. For thefirst time they
establish a consistent set of standards for mostworkplaces
including schools, colleges and universities. Theyreplace earlier
legislation which applied only to factories or
offices and introduce some new elements, includingrequirements
relating to windows and rest facilities (inparticular dealing with
provisions for non-smokers andpregnant and nursing mothers).
Control of substances hazardous tohealth 1994
Every year exposure to hazardous substances at work affectsthe
health of many thousands of people. Common examplesinclude lung
disease (e.g. dusty conditions), skin irritation,dermatitis or skin
cancer (e.g. frequent contact with oils, contact
with corrosive liquids),occupational asthma (e.g.
sensitisationto isocyanates in paints or adhesives), toxic
fumes,occupational cancer etc.
These provide a framework to help protect people in theworkplace
against health risks from hazardous substances. Thesubstances may
be used directly in the work (e.g. cleaningchemicals, chemical
reagents) or may arise from the work (e.g.dusts, fumes and waste
products).
The management of health and safetyat work regulations 1992
The Act sets out the general duties which employers havetowards
employees and members of the public, andemployees have to
themselves and to each other.
These duties are qualified in the Act by the principle of so
far
as is reasonably practicable, in other words, an employer
doesnot have to take measures to avoidOr reduce the risk if they
are technically impossible or if thetime, trouble or cost of the
measures would be grosslydisproportionate to the risk. What the law
requires here is whatgood management and common sense would.
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Personal protective equipment 1992
PPE is defined in the Regulations as all equipment(including
clothing affording protection against theweather) which is intended
to be worn or held by aperson at work and which protects him
against one or
more risks to his health or safety, eg safety helmets,gloves,
eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safetyfootwear and safety
harnesses.
Hearing protection and respiratory protectiveequipment provided
for most work situations are notcovered by these Regulations
because otherregulations apply to them. However, these items needto
be compatible with any other PPE provided.
Fire precautions (amendment) 1999
Do these Fire Safety Regulations apply to me?
Yes, if you employ staff. Every employer has to ensure
thathe/she complies with therequirements of these fire safety
regulations, relating to every
workplace that is under his/her control.
What am I required to do?
When considering fire doors carry out a Risk Assessment ofyour
premises. You
should assess the fire risks in the workplace i.e. sources
ofignition, combustible
materials, and:
The health and safety display screenequipment 1992
The Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment)
Regulations1992 (DSE Regulations implement the requirements of
theEuropean Directive on minimum health and safetyrequirements for
work with display screen equipment. They
were updated and amended in 2002. 'Display screen equipment'
means any alphanumeric or
graphic display screen, regardless of the display
processinvolved.
The effects these regulations have hadon the public services
The health and safety act makes the public services a
healthierand cleaner place to work.
Fire precautions make the workplace in the public services alot
safer in case of a fire hazard; every member of the public
services must learn the fire precautions from the employer.
There will be hazardous signs all over the public services
because of dangerous chemicals, from normal things such
ascleaning chemicals.
