Safety and health at work

So why is this essential?

Over 200 men and women are killed in the workplace each year while several hundred thousand others endure severe injury. Approximately 23.4 million business days were lost in 2009/10 as a result of work-related illness. The main reason for deaths are falls from height and being struck by cars in the workplace. Meanwhile slips and trips are a common cause of personal injury.

Managing health and safety effectively

Businesses have to be able to manage safety and health and in doing this they need to be totally aware of the potential risks which are evident in the workplace, be able to manage those risks and make certain that the risks stay manageable.

It would be unreasonable to expect a company to get rid of all risks, it cannot be done, but what it can do is at first determine the risks and then manage them adequately. It does this through risk assessment that all businesses need to undertake.

In assessing the risks a business needs to look at each individual case and analyse how severe the injury could possibly be, who might be hurt and how probable that was. The risks can be anything with the potential to cause harm. In thinking about the risk, it's not solely the workers that have to be in mind; casual workers, part-time staff and trainees all have to be borne in mind.

The law

It is law that businesses with five or even more staff need to make a record of their risk assessment which includes the primary risks identified, who is most at risk and what more needs to be done and why. Although it is a legal necessity, companies do require a practical perception of the primary hazards inherent in their work.

Amongst the legislation that firms should adhere to is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which says that companies must make sure the safety and health of others and applies to all work activities and office space. The act states the duties that the employer has to satisfy with regards to safety and health, and also those duties that are held by employees, contractors and people in general.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also applies to every workplace and stresses that all of the hazards need to be assessed and modifications made as appropriate. Furthermore, it states that steps should be taken to strengthen safety processes at all opportunities and that instruction ought to be given in a way as to lower the hazards of dangerous scenarios happening.

Additionally, all firms must keep to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) with the company having to report any work-related incidents, illnesses and near-miss incidents, while the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 which place a obligation on companies to ensure that the workplace is safe and appropriate for the duties that are performed there.

Additionally it is necessary for companies to display a poster giving basic health and safety information which also lets other individuals, often visitors to the building, know who the person accountable for safety and health is. Usually the greater the firm the greater information and guidance it'll need with health and safety.

Other action to be taken

Together with all of the actions to be taken, such as risk assessments, conforming to the appropriate acts and regulations, the better firms may also discuss safety issues with their personnel, allowing them to raise any issues of doubt. By taking a more comprehensive approach to the complete problem of safety and health, bosses can help make sure that workers consider the matter seriously and that hazards are reduced consequently.

I am a accident at work claims specialist, working for an online based claims company. I write articles about this area of law which people don't normally know how to deal with and hopefully they can benefit people with my insider knowledge. If you have suffered an injury at work and are not sure if you could make a claim http://www.aachenconsultancy.co.uk might help you.