Occupational Health and Safety

The Health and Safety at Work Act was brought into place in 1974, and is also commonly referred to as HASAW or HSW, is the principal section of legislation encasing occupational health and safety in the United Kingdom. Responsible for enforcing the act, along with additional relevant acts, is the Health and Safety Executive. Many employers will appoint an internal health and safety official to carry out additional enforcements.

Why health and safety regulations exist

Occupational health and safety is the process governed by employment regulations to protect both workers and employers within the workplace.

Officially the regulations are "to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work" of all employees.

Other provisions required by the Act include:

Employers are also required to maintain and revise a written record of health and safety policy while consulting with employees, or employees’ representatives on revised policies. This is only applicable to those employing five or more persons.

Employer's responsibilities

The regulations concerned with a working environment are enforced by Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations, which were introduced in 1992. The regulations ensure necessary duties are carried out by employers in order to maintain a safe and suitable environment for employees to work within.

The regulations encompass all areas of the workplace and the working environment, including:

Employee's responsibilities

While employers are obligated to enforce health and safety legislation in the work place, similarly employees have the responsibility to follow the instructed guidelines and ultimately be responsible for their own well being and that of fellow workers.

Main employee responsibilities are:

• to take necessary care of one’s health and safety
• where possible to avoid wearing jewellery or loose-fitting clothing when operating machinery
• for employees with long hair, to wear a headscarf, ensuring all hair is tucked away to avoid machinery accidents
• to take necessary care not to endanger other workers and members of the public within your daily duties
• to co-operate with your employer, ensuring proper training is given, understanding and following company health and safety policies
• to not to obstruct or alter settings on any health and safety apparatus
• to report all injuries, strains or illnesses suffered as a result of the being in the workplace
• to always inform the employer in the event that something happens that may affect your working performance (eg pregnancy or injury) - an employer has a legal responsibility to maintain employee health and safety, suspension may be enforced throughout investigatory proceedings, though employees will ordinarily be paid for this time
• in the event of driving or operating machinery, to inform the employer of any prescribed medication inducing drowsiness – the employer has a responsibility to temporarily change duties as a precautionary measure