Introduction to World Day for Safety & Health at Work
World Day for Safety & Health at Work is an annual international campaign organised by the International Labour Organisation. It is observed on 28th April each year and the intention is to raise awareness and promote a safe, healthy and sustainable workplace.
Legal duties concerning Heath & Safety
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation governing Health & Safety in Great Britain.
It outlines the general duties that employers have towards both their employees and members of the public to ensure a safe and healthy working environment.
Importantly, it also sets out the responsibilities that employees have for their own safety, as well as that of others around them.
How to comply with the law
Following the basic steps outlined below will help guide you in meeting your responsibilities and ensuring compliance with Health & Safety law:
1) Health & Safety policy
The policy details how you will manage your Health & Safety in your business. It should clearly state who does what, when and how.
Legal requirements for the Health & Safety policy state that it needs to contain three main sections:
- Statement of Intent
- Organisational structure
- Arrangements
2) Suitable and sufficient risk assessments
A risk assessment is the process of identifying, analysing, and controlling hazards in the workplace. They are a tool employers must use to maintain safe working conditions – protecting their staff, as well as anyone that could be affected by the work (like customers, clients, or even the public).
They should identify the hazards in your business that have the potential to cause injury or ill health, along with who may be harmed, and the control measures you have in place to eliminate or control the risk.
3) Process in place for the reporting of accidents and illnesses
By law there are certain injuries, near-misses and work-related diseases that must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive:
- An accident: An unplanned event that has resulted in injury or ill health of people or damage to the environment or property.
- A near miss: An unplanned event that could have caused death, injury, ill health or damage to the environment or property.
All near misses and accidents must be investigated. A system should be implemented which enables employees to report all workplace accidents and near misses. These should be investigated and control measures put in place where necessary.
4) Provide information, training and supervision
Anyone that works for your business should know about the risks in your workplace and how they are protected.
Employers need to ensure that their employees, and anyone else who may be affected by their activities, are supervised.
This should be supplemented with adequate information, instruction and training to enable them to work and carry out their job without risk to health, safety or welfare.
5) Consultation
All employers should have a process in place to consult with employees about health and safety.
Consultation allows employers, managers and the workforce to consider and discuss matters of mutual concern. Problems are shared and more ideas for solutions can be explored.
Effective consultation never removes the right of managers to manage – they always make the final decision – but it does imply that the views of employees will be sought and considered before decisions are made and that decisions are explained.
6) Welfare facilities
Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy working environment along with adequate welfare facilities. The issues that need to be considered in this respect include:
- Adequate ventilation and temperature control
- Sufficient lighting
- Unobstructed and suitable floor surfaces
- Sanitary, washing, and drinking facilities provided
- Areas for rest and eating
7) First aid
Employers must provide suitable and sufficient provisions for dealing with incidents that require immediate first aid. The extent of the first aid provision required depends on the size of the business, the number of employees and the risks presented by the business.
The provision may range from an appointed person and basic first aid kit to several first aiders or an occupational health nurse and a first aid room with substantial supplies in premises where there are significant risks.
8) Appoint a competent person
There must be someone in your organisation or external to your organisation who is competent to help you meet your health and safety legal duties.
Summary
No employers are exempt from the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and addressing health and safety should not just be seen as a regulatory requirement. There is also a moral and financial requirement as well.
Addressing Health & Safety can lead to further benefits that include a reduction in risk and costs, lower employee absence and turnover which can lead to lower accidents rates.
Having a good Health & Safety culture, where Health & Safety matters are top of the agenda, improves company reputation and increased productivity, because employees are healthier, happier and better motivated.
