M3.23
Managing Health & Safety at Work M3.23
Health and safety is one of the most important aspects within any organisation. The purpose of Health and Safety regulations are to ensure that the workplace is a safe environment for all employees when going about their daily duties.
Parliament has issued legislation regarding what are acceptable safety procedures which should be implemented in the workplace and it is the manager’s responsibility to make sure this legislation is followed. Health and safety law is a combination of criminal law and common law. The definition of criminal law is statutory which means that these laws have been legislated by Parliament. Common law is defined through precedents which mean that these rules are commonly accepted.
The Health and Safety in Work Act (HASWA) was introduced in 1974 through Parliament. This act covers a wide range of regulations which relate to health, safety and welfare of different types of workplaces. The Act states that employers have duties of care with regard to the health and safety of their employees, duties which are now incorporated into statute law as part of section 2 of this Act.
The first part of the Act contains a general statement of the duties of employers to their employees while at work and is explained in more detail in subsection 2 which states employers must adhere to the following:-
(1) Provide and maintain plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Plant covers any machinery, equipment or appliances including portable power tools and hand tools.
(2) Ensure that the use, handling storage and transport or articles and substances is safe and without risk.
(3) Provide such information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure that employees can carry out their jobs safely.
(4) Ensure that any workshop is safe and healthy and that proper means of access and egress are maintained, particularly in respect of high standards of housekeeping,
Health and safety is one of the most important aspects within any organisation. The purpose of Health and Safety regulations are to ensure that the workplace is a safe environment for all employees when going about their daily duties.
Parliament has issued legislation regarding what are acceptable safety procedures which should be implemented in the workplace and it is the manager’s responsibility to make sure this legislation is followed. Health and safety law is a combination of criminal law and common law. The definition of criminal law is statutory which means that these laws have been legislated by Parliament. Common law is defined through precedents which mean that these rules are commonly accepted.
The Health and Safety in Work Act (HASWA) was introduced in 1974 through Parliament. This act covers a wide range of regulations which relate to health, safety and welfare of different types of workplaces. The Act states that employers have duties of care with regard to the health and safety of their employees, duties which are now incorporated into statute law as part of section 2 of this Act.
The first part of the Act contains a general statement of the duties of employers to their employees while at work and is explained in more detail in subsection 2 which states employers must adhere to the following:-
(1) Provide and maintain plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Plant covers any machinery, equipment or appliances including portable power tools and hand tools.
(2) Ensure that the use, handling storage and transport or articles and substances is safe and without risk.
(3) Provide such information, instruction, training and supervision to ensure that employees can carry out their jobs safely.
(4) Ensure that any workshop is safe and healthy and that proper means of access and egress are maintained, particularly in respect of high standards of housekeeping,