Handout 1: Health and safety at work PowerPoint presentation Understand employer organisations Handout 1: Health and safety at work

Introduction Health and safety within the business environment is often ignored or not seen as important. Health and safety is crucial within any business environment whether it be an office or an oil rig. It is important to recognise the hazards and risks within each environment and for employers to ensure they are dealt with accordingly.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Details the responsibilities of employers management staff visitors external contractors. Legislation is in place to ensure that all working environments are healthy and safe for all who work in them or visit them. The main legislation in place is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and it applies to all workplaces

Employers’ responsibilities ensure the health and safety and welfare at work of employees 'so far as is reasonably practicable' provide safe systems of work and equipment a safe working environment and adequate welfare facilities safe means of entry and exit to and from work have in place (and regularly update) a written statement on the health and safety policy of the organisation and this must be known to the employees of the organisation provide information and instruction on health and safety and the safe use of equipment.

Employees’ responsibilities take reasonable care of their own health and safety take reasonable care of the health and safety of others affected by what they do cooperate with their employer in carrying out the health and safety requirements.

Employees’ rights a healthy and safe working environment safe systems of work in place adequate welfare facilities safe access to and from work information and training on the systems and equipment in use to ensure they work in a healthy and safe way.

Organisations’ rights employees who work in a safe and healthy manner having due care for their own safety and that of others employees who cooperate with them in ensuring health and safety requirements are met. All organisations must display an up-to-date Health and Safety poster in a prominent position for all staff to read. This poster outlines the responsibilities of employers and employees and details the people who can be contacted for information and advice and to whom any health and safety issues should be reported.

Other health and safety legislation Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1992 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 While the main legislation is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, there are other regulations that are passed to make sure that health and safety laws are kept up to date and improved. Examples of these are: Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1992 – this covers the reporting of accidents/incidents which cause injury or disease. It covers what should be reported and how, and the investigation that should take place. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – this covers risk assessment and the monitoring of health and safety. Risk assessments analyse the hazards that exist in the workplace and assess the likely risks from them (low, medium or high) and details how the risks can be minimised or eradicated. Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 – this covers the condition of the workplace you are expected to work in, complementing the Health and Safety at Work Act and offering more detail. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 – this covers what is necessary to make the use of computers (recognised as VDUs – visual display units) and the workstation you work in safe and comfortable. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 – these regulations cover equipment in use in your organisation and require your employer to ensure that the equipment you use is suitable, safe and properly maintained and that you receive the required training on its use.

First-aid boxes should be regularly checked. Organisations must provide first aid facilities according to their size and the work carried out. First-aid boxes should be regularly checked. Organisations must provide suitably trained and qualified first aiders or appointed person(s). The appointed person is responsible for ensuring the first aid box is refilled taking control of the situation and calling any emergency services. An appointed person is not a qualified first aider and so must not carry out any first aid. A further regulation that affects the health and safety provision within an organisation is the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, which requires that all organisations provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment and facilities (eg first aid box, eye wash, medical room etc). Contents are only basic items, eg Elastoplasts, bandages etc, are in it and that it does not contain any form of medication, drugs, aspirin etc. Drugs, aspirins or similar should never be issued to any other member of staff . Whether an organisation needs a first aider or appointed person depends on whether the particular workplace is a low, medium or high risk environment. As you work in an administrative environment your workplace may be classed as low risk and so your employer may require to only nominate an appointed person to take the place of a first aider. A qualified first aider will be required in a high risk environment or in a large low risk workplace employing large numbers of staff. The qualified first aider will require to ensure they keep their qualification up to date. You should always know who the first aider/appointed person is and how to contact them and where to locate the first aid box.

Accident reporting Accidents must be reported to the appropriate person in the organisation. A written record must be completed. In some circumstances it must be reported to the environmental health department of your local authority or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). They will then visit and carry out an investigation. The organisation must carry out an investigation of any accident, reportable or not, to ensure the hazard is removed. While care is taken to ensure you operate in a healthy and safe environment, accidents do happen. Certain circumstances: eg where the accident has resulted in the employee breaking a bone, being injured from electric shock leading to unconsciousness or resuscitation, or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours: certain poisonings etc.

Hazardous substances Hazardous substances in the office, eg photocopier toner bleach for cleaning. Legislated for under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 1999. COSHH Regulations cover use and storage of substances. Data sheets on each hazardous substance should be obtained from the manufacturer or supplier and retained in an accessible area.

Risk assessment Your employer will assess the hazards within your workplace and the risks they may present. A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm. A risk is the likely chance (low, medium or high risk) that the hazard will cause harm. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires risk assessments to be carried out no matter the level of risk. It is your responsibility to report any hazard. When in your workplace, you must always work in a safe and healthy manner having respect for others and taking care that your behaviour does not present danger to others. Report to eg a member of management or health and safety officer, following your organisation’s procedures. Advice on risk assessment and other health and afety matters is available from the Health and Safety Executive or the Environmental Health department of your local authority.

In summary Health and Safety needs to be considered in any task you carry out. Ensure you have a tidy and organised work area and should at all times minimise waste. Remember, you have responsibilities for Health and Safety in the workplace and not just your employer. Being aware of your responsibilities should ensure that you and others remain healthy and safe, and contributes to a pleasant and productive working environment.