The Health and Safety Executive enforces legislation that imposes a duty on employers to protect their employees’ health and safety. This overview explains the responsibilities of your employer to safeguard your physical well-being while you perform your job.
First Aid
Health and Safety (First-Aid Regulations) 1981, which is regulated and enforced the HSE, requires employers to provide appropriate and adequate equipment, facilities and staff to ensure employees receive immediate medical attention if they become injured or ill while at work. The regulations are applicable to all workplaces regardless of their size or industry.
Employers should assess their first aid requirements to determine the appropriate provisions based on the type of work they do and the associated risks. It may be necessary to designate one or more people as designated first aiders. To maintain their ability respond to emergencies effectively, designated first aiders should receive appropriate training and have their skills refreshed on a regular basis.
Employers should ensure that first aid supplies are readily available at the site, in addition to providing trained personnel. This could include eyewash stations, first aid kits and emergency equipment depending on the risk identified during the assessment.
It is important to maintain a written manual on health and safety to outline the steps to follow in case of an emergency. The manual should identify and describe the first-aiders and their responsibilities, as well as the location and content of the first-aid supplies. The manual should be regularly reviewed and easily accessible by all employees.
Provide the appropriate tools and equipment
Employers are required to provide equipment and tools that are appropriate for the job at hand, and in a safe and usable condition. This obligation is applicable to all workplaces, and applies both to general tools as well as any specialised equipment relevant to the task. The equipment must be suitable for its intended use, free of obvious defects and used according to manufacturer guidelines or relevant standards.
This responsibility includes the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE). Employers are required to provide PPE appropriate for the risks identified in a risk assessment. Depending on the type of work, this may include gloves, helmets and eye protection. It could also be high-visibility clothing or safety shoes. The PPE must be up-to-date, effective and able to perform its intended function. Ineffective, damaged or expired PPE should be replaced immediately.
All tools, equipment, and PPE should be inspected regularly to detect wear and tear, defects, or any other issue that could affect their safety. Where applicable, maintenance records should be maintained. Employers should ensure that anyone operating machinery or handling specialist gear has been properly trained and is competent to perform their duties safely.
Failure to maintain equipment properly or to provide it with safe and appropriate equipment can cause injuries that could have been avoided. This may be a violation of health and safety laws.
Identify hazards clearly
Employers need to be proactive in identifying and highlighting all workplace hazards. Risk assessments are necessary to identify any situation, activity or substance that may cause harm. Hazards can be immediate (such as a wet floor, sharp edges, cables trailing behind, or exposed wiring), or ongoing, and linked to the workplace, like excessive noise, poor light, hazardous chemicals, or contact with moving machines. Regular risk assessments are required and should be updated whenever work processes or hazards change.
All employees must be informed of these risks once they have been identified. Signage is one of the best ways to do this. Signs should be placed wherever there is an obvious risk. They must also meet safety standards, both in terms of design and placement. This includes using standardised colours and symbols, such as red circles to indicate prohibitions or yellow triangles to warn of general hazards. Signs should be placed where employees will be likely to come into contact with the hazards. They must also not be damaged, obscured or too high or lower to be visible.
Signage alone is not sufficient. Employers should also ensure that employees are aware of the information and how to react. It may be through training, verbal explanations or the inclusion of signs in safety and health documentation. Encourage employees to report any damaged or missing signage so that these can be promptly replaced.
