Health and Safety

What health and safety rules do you have to follow in school?

o Flat black shoes to be worn at all timeso Jewellery and make up are not permitted in school

(those with pierced ears are permitted to wear one pair of stud earrings- one in each ear)

o Respect must be shown for others and for school property

o Litter should be deposited in bins providedo Permission must be gained to leave school at any time

during the day

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

There are rules and regulations that the business must follow in order to ensure that the work environment is safe.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 apply to all workplace environments however large or small.

The Act applies to anyone who is on the premises including employees, managers, customers and contractors who are involved in maintenance or temporary work.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Act states that:

1. All employers must ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees as far as “is reasonably practicable”.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

o All entry and exit routes must be safe

o There must be a safe working environment and adequate facilities for the welfare of staff (somewhere to make a drink, toilet facilities, a quiet area)

o Equipment must be safe and well maintained

o Steps should be in place for thesafe transportation and storage of allarticles and substances

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

o The provision of protective clothing where necessary

o There should be clear information and training on health and safety with adequate supervision of issues to do with health and safety

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The Act also states that;

2. A business with five or more employees should have a written policy on health and safety for the business. The statement should be written by the employer and continually updated to include any changes. This document should be circulated to all employees.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

The business should permit a trade union to appoint safety representatives who must be allowed to investigate accidents or potential hazards and follow up employee complaints.

Safety representatives within a business should be given time off carry out their duties.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

All employees must:

o Take responsibility for their own health and safety.

o Take responsibility for the health and safety of others who may be affected by their activities or actions.

o Cooperate with their employer to meet health and safety requirements.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Before the Health and Safety at Work Act nearly 800 fatal accidents occurred each year in workplaces in Britain.

The number of accidents fell in 1999 to 257. This decrease is a result of the Health and Safety at Work Act and subsequent laws that make it illegal for the employer, the employee and anyone visiting a company to endanger the health and safety of individuals.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Health and Safety Regulations 1992

Due to various health problems that can occur with incorrect computer use there is now a law called the Health and Safety Regulations 1992 which employers have to abide by.

The law says that employers must do five things;

Health and Safety Regulations 1992

Analyse workstations to assess and reduce risks

1

Health and Safety Regulations 1992

• Ensure work stations meet minimum requirements.

• This includes providing proper computer chairs and good lighting.

2

Health and Safety Regulations 1992

Plan work so there are breaks or changes of activity.

3

Employers must not expect workers to work at a computer all day. They must provide regular breaks or allow employees to do non-computer work.

Health and Safety Regulations 1992

4

Employers must provide free eye-tests to all staff who regularly use VDUs as part of their job.

Health and Safety Regulations 1992

Employers must provide health and safety training and information so that employees can take action themselves to reduce health risks.

5

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 1999 (COSHH)

o All hazardous substances must be stored in a safe environment

o People who use hazardous substances must wear protective clothing

o When handling hazardous substances people should wear rubber gloves

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)

Employers must ensure that all equipment is well maintained and appropriate training and instructions are provided for users.

Manual Handling Operatons Regulations 1992

Wherever possible an automated or mechanised process should be used to lift heavy loads.

If employees have to move items they should be trained properly in order to minimise injury.

These regulations would apply where an employee might be expected to move heavy boxes of paper or computer equipment.

Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992

There are special regulations in place for those using display screen equipment and VDU (visual display units).

Many people now suffer from repetitive strain injury (RSI). It can be very painful and causes long-term damage to joints and bones.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is caused by the joints in the fingers constantly being pounded by typing at high speed. RSI causes pain in the joints and can cause long term disability.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

RSI can be prevented from occurring by:

• Good keyboard designo Well positioned keyboardo Good typing techniqueo Frequent breaks

Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992

Eyestrain can occur as a result of continued use of a computer without sufficient breaks.

Eyestrain occurs when we have been focusing for a substantial period of time on one object, i.e. the computer monitor.

One way of avoiding eyestrain is to look at a distant object such as a poster on the wall or looking out of the window.

Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992

Employers must ensure that;

o all workstations, furniture, computer software and the working environment of VDU users meets the minimum requirements of the regulations

o all workers have regular breaks or changes in activity- it is illegal to work continuously at a computer all day!

o they offer eye examinations to employees who use VDUs for more than one hour a day and provide glasses if the employee needs them

o they provide with relevant health and safety training

Who enforces the law?

Health and safety is monitored and enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE has a team of inspectors that operate in every local authority in the country.

The Health and Safety Inspector has the power to visit any working environment within working in order to inspect the premises, or investigate a complaint or to find out the facts about an accident.

If an inspector fears that the working conditions might endanger the employees who are working there he or she can issue a prohibition notice.

Who enforces the law?

If the business is given a prohibition notice the employer must stop operations immediately. If the issues are serious and they are not put right the owners of the business can be fined or imprisoned.