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 person
suitable 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 training
Intranet
Notice boards
Staff development training
Staff meeting
Reported to the HSE, who can:





enter and inspect premises
issue improvement notices
interview people and give warnings
close down premises
fine or prosecute.
Disciplinary procedures:






verbal warning
written warning
suspension
fine
dismissal
criminal 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.