Workplace Health and Safety

Employees have responsibilities under the health and safety laws. Typically, employees are required to: follow instructions and rules in the workplace - for example, to comply with instructions designed to ensure that work is carried out safely; work and behave in ways which are safe and do not endanger the health and safety of anyone in the workplace.

As well as employees and employers, other people have workplace health and safety responsibilities such as people who sell equipment and materials, or who provide services to a place of work for example: cleaning maintenance or repairs, building and construction. They must ensure that the goods they design, make, supply, install, maintain or repair will not cause injury or damage the health of people in workplaces.

Health and safety concerns in your workplace

Employers are required by law to consult with their employees regarding the health and safety aspects of their place of work, or any changes to the workplace that may affect their health and safety.

Responsible employers will also establish good working relationships with trade unions whose members they employ to make sure that any worries employees have about their health or safety can be tackled.

In larger workplaces there is usually an occupational health and safety committee with elected employee representatives and appointed employer representatives. Consultations about health and safety matters usually take place between management and the employees through these representatives or committees.

Some of the committee duties may include:

1. To make sure there are policies and procedures on things such as: working with chemicals and how to report accidents and buying safe equipment and machinery etc.
2. Checking that work procedures are properly protecting workers health and safety.
3. Conduct workplace training about health and safety.
4. Management and the solving of disagreements or problems.
5. Walk around inspections, and studying reported accidents, illness, and workers compensation claims etc.

Representatives would know about the health and safety hazards in the workplace and would work with managers to resolve ways of getting rid of hazards, or if that's not possible, protecting workers from them. They would also keep up-to-date about health and safety matters in the workplace and most importantly communicate with managers and employees about changes in the workplace that may affect the health and safety of employees.

See also:

• fire extinguishers
• fire safety equipment
• emergency eye wash
• first aid supply
• workplace health and safety

Disclaimer: Business Health & Safety UK have provided this advice on the basis that the content and advice contained within these documents is to the best of our knowledge accurate at the time of publication. The Business Safety Company does not accept any liability for the accuracy of the information provided in the above' and website pages.