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Health and safety at work

This article introduces the main aspects of health and safety law in the UK. It outlines:

 

  • how the law affects you and your employer
  • the duties you and your employer have
  • what to do if you have a problem.

Why do we have health and safety laws?

Health and safety law protects people at work. It sets out rules for:

  • the rights and responsibilities of employers and workers
  • workplace safety
  • dealing with hazards at work
  • reporting accidents and injuries.

The current legal framework

The foundation of the current UK legal framework is the Health and Safety at Work (HSW) Act 1974. Its main purposes are to:

  • protect the public against risks to health and safety arising from work activities
  • control dangerous substances.

The act places responsibility for health and safety at work with:

  • employers and self employed people
  • employees
  • those in control of plant or premises
  • those who design, manufacture, supply or import materials or substances used at work.

The act is supported by more recent laws affecting specific aspects of health and safety. Between them, these regulations set out what an employer must do, ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’, to make your workplace safe and without risks to your health.

The duties your employer has

Your employer should:

  • assess the workplace risks to your health and safety and make changes if needed
  • consult with you, or someone who represents you, on matters of health and safety
  • provide information, supervision and training on health and safety
  • have a written health and safety policy (if there are more than five employees)
  • ensure that the workplace is clean and safe, with adequate heating, lighting and ventilation
  • provide adequate washing and toilet facilities, drinking water and first aid facilities  
  • ensure that display screen equipment users have adequate breaks, get regular eye tests and have adjustable furniture
  • provide protective clothing and equipment
  • minimise the risks of injury to you if you have to lift loads
  • make sure that equipment is regularly maintained, that you are well trained in how to use it and protected from any dangerous parts
  • ensure the correct warning signs are in place and are maintained
  • ensure that employers record and report details of any accident, injury or medical condition caused by work
  • ensure that you do not work more than the legal maximum working week and get the rest breaks, time off and annual leave you are entitled to.

The duties you, as an employee, have

You should:

  • follow the health and safety training you are given
  • take reasonable care of your own, and other people's, health and safety
  • co-operate with your employer on health and safety matters
  • tell your supervisor or safety representative if you feel the work, or inadequate precautions, are putting anyone's health and safety at risk.

Applying and enforcing the rules

  • The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) sets out goals for employers to aim at, but does not prescribe how to achieve them.
  • The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ensures that all the rules are understood. 

The HSE and local authorities employ inspectors to enforce the rules in different areas of work and types of premises. Inspectors have powers which include: 

  • visiting and entering premises without warning
  • providing education, advice or guidance
  • issuing warning letters or improvement and prohibition notices
  • prosecuting (on the procurator fiscal's advice). 

What should I do if I think there is a health and safety hazard in my workplace? 

 

First, talk to your line manager or safety representative. If nothing changes, you could then: 

  • speak to your trade union representative, or
  • complain through your company’s grievance procedure.

If you are not satisfied with your employer’s response, contact the HSE or the local authority. If you contact the HSE helpline, you do not have to give your name.


HSE contact points in Scotland:

 

Belford House
59 Belford Road
Edinburgh
EH4 3UE
Covers: Borders, Lothian, Central, Perth, Kinross, Fife and Dundee

 

Lord Cullen House
Fraser Place
Aberdeen
AB25 3UB
Covers: Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Shetland and the Offshore Safety Division

 

Longman House
28 Longman Industrial Estate
Inverness
IV1 1SF
Covers: Highlands and Orkney

 

1st Floor

Mercantile Chambers

53 Bothwell Street

Glasgow
G2 6TS
Covers: West Scotland

HSE National contact point and infoline

HSE Infoline: 0845 345 0055
Textphone: 0845 408 9577 
Web: www.hse.gov.uk

Other contacts

 

Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives (HWL) - an occupational health and safety service, part of NHS Health Scotland,

Adviceline: 0800 019 2211

Web: http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/

Direct Gov: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm (section on Health and Safety at Work)