Health and Safety Regulations
Understanding safety, risk assessment and occupational hazards
Whether businesses like it or not, health and safety law is here to stay, and all employers and business owners need to make sure that they understand their obligations under the law.
Health and safety doesn't just apply to high risk jobs in factories and on construction sites - it is relevant in every workplace or publicly accessible building, including offices, shops and even moving vehicles.
Violations against health and safety are taken very seriously: together, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities in the UK send out about 13,000 enforcement notices every year to businesses who have neglected to comply with regulations.
Businesses who fail to fall into line can be fined, with the average fine being around £10,000.
Compliance & prevention
The health and safety regime is focused on prevention of accidents and minimising risks. The business owner's best option for dealing with health and safety issues is to make sure that they are fully compliant with the law, but the volume of health and safety legislation, rules, regulations and good practice guidelines is immense and so it is always best to take legal advice from a health and safety law specialist when setting up a new business, or changing business practices.
Unfortunately, even after you have made your business environment safe and risk-free, it won't stay that way. For example, structures can become unstable, machines can malfunction and the business must continue to operate in a potentially dangerous environment. Sometimes quick decisions are necessary, and expert solicitors and health and safety law consultants can often give round-the-clock advice and guidance as problems develop.
Infringements & prosecutions
Breaching health and safety legislation can be a very serious matter, particularly if injuries result. Companies which do not comply can face fines of tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. Ultimately, the directors of a company are personally responsible for health and safety, and in cases of persistent or serious failures, directors can be convicted and imprisoned.
It is important to remember that breaches of health and safety law are a criminal matter and prosecutions will be conducted in the normal criminal courts, with all the formality and complexity which that entails. Expert legal advice and assistance is essential at all stages of the legal process, from investigation through to trial and appeal.
Health and safety and your legal responsibilities
Health and safety law puts a legal responsibility on employers and employees for their actions to prevent harm being caused to others.
What about health and safety planning?
Health and safety planning is something that all employers really need to consider in order to prevent harm coming to anyone in their workplace.
Health and safety solicitors
As health and safety is a major part in the working environment there are solicitors who specialise in health and safety laws and regulations.