AnintroductiontohealthandsafetyWhatyoushouldknowabout–wheretogetmoreinformationHealthandsafetyinsmallbusinessesIt’syourbusinessbutwecanhelpyoulookafterit!Gettinghurtatworkorbecomingillthroughworkisnotapleasantsubjecttothinkabout.Therealityisthatover200peopleayearlosetheirlivesatworkinBritain.Inaddition,around150000non-fatalinjuriesarereportedeachyear,andanestimated2millionsufferfromillhealthcausedormadeworsebywork.Themistakeistobelievethatthesethingshappeninhighlyunusualorexceptionalcircumstancesthatneveroccurinyourworkplace.Thisisnotthecase.Somebasicthinkingandactingbeforehandcouldusuallyhavepreventedthesethingsfromhappening.Implementinghealthandsafetymeasuresdoesn’thavetobeexpensive,timeconsumingorcomplicated.Infact,saferandmoreefficientworkingpracticescanoftensavemoneybut,moreimportantly,theycanhelptosavelives.Thisbookletshowsyouthekindofthingswhichcausethemorecommonaccidentsandharmtopeople’shealth.Itletsyouseewhatappliestoyourworkactivities,andtellsyouhowyoucangetmorehelpandinformation.Thisisespeciallyimportantifyouareinchargeofworkactivities,egyouareanemployer,becauseyouhavelegalresponsibilities.introduction|1TenquestionsandanswersforeveryoneWhatishealthandsafetyallabout?Preventingpeoplefrombeingharmedbyworkorbecomingillbytakingtherightprecautions-andprovidingasatisfactoryworkingenvironment.Whyaretherehealthandsafetylaws?Becausehealthandsafetyatworkissoimportant,thereareruleswhichrequireallofusnottoputourselvesorothersindanger.Thelawisalsotheretoprotectthepublicfromworkplacedangers.Dohealthandsafetylawsapplytome?Yes.Toallbusinesses,how-eversmall;alsototheself-employedandtoemployees.Whoenforceshealthandsafetylaw?InspectorsfromtheHealthandSafetyExecutive(HSE)oryourlocalauthority.Forexample:●HSEatfactories,farmsandbuildingsites;●localauthoritiesinoffices,shops,hotelsandcatering,andleisureactivities.It’syourbusiness–solookafterit!Whatdoinspectorsactuallydo?Theyvisitworkplacestocheckthatpeoplearestickingtotherules.Theyinvestigatesomeaccidentsandcomplaintsbutmainlytheyhelpyoutounderstandwhatyouneedtodo.Theyenforceonlywhensomethingisseriouslywrong.DoIhavetocontactaninspectortogetinformation?No.HSEoperatesaconfidentialtelephoneinformationservicecalledInfolinewhichisopenMonday-Fridaybetween8amand6pm.YoucancontactInfolinebytelephone08453450055orfax08454089566,ore-mailhse.infoline@natbrit.com.AlternativelyyoucanwritetoHSEInformationServices,CaerphillyBusinessPark,CaerphillyCF833GG.DoIneedtoregistermybusiness?It’slikelyyouwillifyouemployanyone-contactInfoline.DoIneedtohaveemployers’liabilitycompulsoryinsurance?It’sthelawifyouemployanyone-andyoushoulddisplaythecertificate.Seethefreeleaflet,Employers’LiabilityCompulsoryInsuranceAct1969.AguideforemployersHSE40(rev1),availablefromHSEBookson01787881165orfromwww.hsebooks.co.uk.DoIneedtodisplayanyposters?Yes,thehealthandsafetylawposter(ISBN0717624935)ifyouemployanyone.AlternativelyyoucanprovideyouremployeeswithindividualcopiesofthesameinformationinaleafletcalledHealthandsafetylaw:Whatyoushouldknow(availableinpacksof25ISBN0717617025).TheposterandleafletsareavailablefromHSEBooks.DoIhavetoreportinjuriesatwork?Yes,andotherincidents.Forinformationonwhichonesandwhoshouldreportthem,seepage20.2|introductionHowtousethisbooklet–howeachsectionworksListoftopicsManaginghealthandsafetySlips,tripsandfallsAsbestosHazardoussubstancesFall...
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