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Category Archives: Health and Safety Compliance

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Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974: Quick Facts

Industrial CleaningThe Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 (HSWA) is the primary piece of health and safety law in the UK. It lays down broad principles for managing health and safety in all workplaces with the exception of servants in domestic premises and many government bodies, which cannot be prosecuted under the Act.

The HSWA is an enabling Act, which means it is the legal facility under which other health and safety regulations, eg the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, are made.

As this topic describes, the HSWA is part of statute law and breaches can result in prosecutions, which means offences are punishable in the courts, and fines and prison sentences can be imposed.

  • The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 (HSWA) is the primary piece of legislation covering the main principles of health and safety
  • The HSWA aims to prevent the risk of injury rather than the injury itself. Thus a criminal offence is committed each time the terms of the Act are breached, regardless of whether or not anyone is actually injured by the breach
  • Under the Act, employers have a general duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees
  • The HSWA imposes a duty on people who are in charge of premises which carry out a trade, business or other undertaking (whether for profit or not) to use the best possible means to prevent the emission of noxious or offensive substances, and to render those substances harmless and inoffensive
  • If five or more people are employed, employers must have a written health and safety policy
  • Employers must ensure that articles or substances used at work are safe and that they do not expose the users to health risks
  • Employees must ensure their own health and safety and that of others while at work and co-operate with their employers in matters relating to health and safety
  • Issues of enforcement, the powers of inspectors, etc are detailed in the HSWA
  • Directors and managers also have health and safety duties

Contact us if you require any assistance.

 

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Safety and Car Parks

Car park owners, and any contractors operating car parks on their behalf, have a responsibility to ensure that car parks are safe to use.

Many organisations operate car parks. This can be as part of the organisation’s overall commercial activity or as a utility for employees.

Car parks can present many hazards. People in the vicinity of the car park can be hit by moving vehicles or crushed against other objects by vehicles. Crime can also occur in parking areas, both against vehicles and against individuals who use the car park as well as those who may work in such establishments.

Under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and subsidiary legislation, car park owners and any contractors operating car parks on their behalf, have a responsibility to ensure that car parks are safe to use.

Car park hazards

Car parks owned or used by an organisation can range from simple ground-floor level parking areas to multi-storey or underground complexes.

There are several hazards associated with car parks including:

  • over-parking and site congestion resulting in dangerous manoeuvres, blocking of pedestrian routes, etc
  • lack of properly segregated and/or poorly marked parking areas without clearly defined pedestrian routes
  • carelessly parked cars that obstruct pedestrian routes and reduce the visibility of other drivers and pedestrians
  • lack of safe, segregated routes from the parking area to the workplace (including poor surfaces, lighting, etc)
  • security concerns of crime against individuals using or working in car parks as well as vehicle-related crime
  • poor maintenance of car park equipment and facilities resulting in equipment failure and accidents

In extreme cases, failure to manage car park facilities can result in serious incidents and even fatalities.

Personal safety

A number of hazards may have to be considered including:

  • weather extremes and the potential for ill health
  • being struck by vehicles if moving around the car park

Criminal activity is common in some car parking areas with crimes involving theft from vehicles or, more seriously, theft and/or assaults on persons.

Inspection and monitoring

In general terms, when inspecting car parks, those with responsibility should ensure that:

  • all markings and signage are clear and in good condition
  • height/width restrictions are in good condition
  • horizontal or vertical barriers (if fitted) are working correctly
  • car park users are parking vehicles correctly and following rules
  • pedestrians are using routes appropriately
  • there are no issues of over-parking.

General good housekeeping is also important because if obstructions are left blocking traffic routes, or if driving or walking surfaces become littered, slippery or too dirty, they may cause significant risks to health and safety.

All ancillary equipment should be subject to appropriate inspection and maintenance procedures. This may include, for example, automated gates or barriers, lighting, CCTV, payment machines.

Contact Walker Health and Safety Services if you require assistance.

 

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Tips to Manage the Risks from Hand/Arm Vibration

The risks from hand/arm vibration can often be easily managed, but it is vital that the correct measures are put into place. Check today that your workers are protected when using power tools and other similar equipment.

  1. Do a risk assessment to help identify the hazards associated with vibration in relation to the tools your workers use, and the jobs they are required to do. Look at both individuals and groups of workers who may be at risk.
  2. Work out which of your tools emit vibration and each of the tasks they are used for. See what control measures are needed to either remove or reduce the vibration risk, such as introducing maximum time limits for the use of each tool. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and guidance for information about this.
  3. Train workers to use hand-held tools in the correct way. Make sure they do not apply excessive force but instead allow the tool to do the work.
  4. Introduce health surveillance for those potentially at risk of ill-health from vibration. Teach staff about the symptoms to look out for, such as finger numbness, pain and loss of grip.
  5. Regularly inspect tools to check that they are in a good condition. Make sure that tools are not blunt, and that where feasible, dampeners are in place.

Contact us if you require advice.

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Health and Safety Training

The main reason for providing health and safety training is to enable people to do their jobs safely and without risk to health.

Organisations often allocate considerable resources to the provision of training. This topic describes the type of pre-planning that should take place to ensure the greatest benefit is realised.

Employers are legally obliged to provide suitable and sufficient health and safety training. Many criminal and civil cases have revolved around employers’ failure to provide adequate training.

Training is an essential feature of most risk control systems and should be carried out prior to an employee being exposed to a risk.

To be effective, training should be carefully planned on three levels, in terms of:

  • organisation
  • job or occupation
  • the individual employee
  • The process of assessing what training is necessary at any of these levels is known as a training needs analysis.
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of the training should be planned.

Training is an essential element of any safety management system. Training can improve competence, and alter behaviour and attitudes. However, before embarking on a training programme thought should be given to what training can achieve — and its limitations.

Having established clear aims and objectives, selected the mode of training accordingly, and delivered the training, it is vital to evaluate its effectiveness, as this topic describes.

  • Employers are legally obliged to provide suitable and sufficient health and safety training. Many criminal and civil cases have revolved around an employer’s failure to provide adequate training.
  • Training can improve the safety culture of an organisation, create more positive attitudes and safety behaviour among staff and reduce accident rates. Training is often required at all levels in an organisation.
  • Health and safety training may be based broadly on one of the following two methodologies.
    • Face-to-face methods, such as classroom-based training, “toolbox talks”, job instruction, workshops, role play and exercises.
    • Resource-based learning, such as computer-based training and open learning/distance learning.
  • The choice of training method is determined by the objectives, eg whether concerned with the recall of information, individual attitudes and perceptions, or physical activities or tasks.
  • Always evaluate the training to ensure that it has met its objectives.

If you require assistance for a training programme, please contact Walker Health and Safety Services.

 

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Ensure Asbestos Removals on Your Premises are Undertaken Safely

Asbestos-related diseases kill many people each year, yet these deaths could be prevented if the correct controls are implemented. Where necessary, only ever use licensed contractors to do removal work involving asbestos in your workplace, and ensure that the work is properly planned.
 
Tips to Ensure Asbestos Removals on Your Premises are Undertaken Safely

  1. Before undertaking any work, first be sure you know where all of your ACM are and that they actually need to be removed in the first place. If the ACM is in a good condition, it may be a better option to leave it in situ and manage it by regularly checking its condition. Review your situation on an annual basis at least to see if the condition of the material has changed.
  2. Check that the contractor you intend to use has the necessary licence for the type of ACM you need removed – check the HSE website for more information. Ask for references and recommendations from other companies if you are not sure where to start looking.
  3. Ask the contractor for proof of training for individuals, and for the company’s experience in the type of job you want them to do.
  4. View the contractors plan for the removals. Check that the asbestos removal company has undertaken a risk assessment and has produced a method statement which details how the work will be done safely and what control measures will be introduced, including how areas will be contained to prevent the spread of fibres, the emergency procedures if something goes wrong, and the personal protective equipment to be used. Enquire also about how the clean-up will be managed safely.
  5. Share your building plans and asbestos management plans with the contractor so that they can satisfy themselves that they know the layout of the site, and can ask any relevant questions about the job.

Contact us if you require assistance.

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Walker Health and Safety Services Limited,
Suite 6, C1, Coalport House,
Stafford Court,
Stafford Park 1,
Telford,
Shropshire,
TF3 3BD

Telephone: 0845 834 0400
Fax: 0845 834 0401
Email: info@walkersafety.co.uk

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