Legislation exists to protect people.

Laws have been created to enforce people’s rights and to
solve conflict. They exist so everyone in society knows which behaviours and
practices are acceptable and which are not.The Health and Safety at Work Act
1974 is the main legislation.

The purpose of this Act can be found behind these animals
who are considered dangerous:

-To secure the health, safety and welfare of people at
work

-To protect others from risks arising from activities of
people at work

-To control the use and storage of dangerous substances

-To control the emission into the atmosphere of noxious
substances

If
you work for an organisation, your employer should display an official health
and safety poster at main premises which sets out what you and your employer
should do. It should also display the name of your organisation’s health
and safety representative.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

HSE is the government’s regulator of health and safety at
work. We refer to them and their guidance quite a lot in our courses. You
can get a free downloadable copy of the poster using the blue button.

There are other
important laws that support the Health and Safety at Work Act. These are some
of the main ones that apply to your work:

-MHSAW

-RIDDOR

-RFO

-COSHH

-MHOR

-LOLER

-PUWER

-PPE

Everyone is responsible for health and safety.

That includes YOU!

If you see something dangerous, put it right if it is
safe to do so and report it immediately. Let’s understand why… 

You see some boxes in front of a fire exit,
you walk past them thinking it is not your responsibility to say
anything. 

You drive home and
switch on the television.

You
hear that a fire has killed 3 of your colleagues and 20 residents at the care
home you worked at because the fire exit was obstructed and they couldn’t get
out fast enough. The care home is closed, you lose your job. Other residents
are injured, traumatised and have to be relocated.

Unpleasant –
sorry! It is not a nice scenario but it does happen. So, if you see
something dangerous, like a fire exit obstruction, remove it immediately and
report that you have done so. If you do not follow health and safety
legislation and local policies and procedures, you are putting yourself and
other people at risk of injury or even death.