7.2 Working safely
7.2.1 Safe System of Work
1 The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the main piece of legislation that states essential duties of employers, employees and contractors in maintaining a safe working environment.
These are not optional and must be complied with.
They have been put in place for everyone’s benefit, so don’t ignore them.
2 The key duties of employers to their employees are to
1. ensure, so far is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its workforce.
2. provide a safe working environment and system of work.
3. ensure materials are used and stored appropriately.
4. provide relevant information, instruction, supervision and training.
5. provide a safe and adequately maintained place of work, including access and exit points.
6. provide and maintain adequate welfare facilities (for example, a rest / eating room and changing facilities).
An employer also has a duty arising from his activities to ensure that anyone who is not an employee but who may be affected by work activities are not to be exposed to risks to their health or safety. This might include the general public walking or users of sports facilities near to some of the working activities.
3 The key duties of employees at work are to
1. take reasonable care not just of their own health and safety, but also that of other people who might be affected by their work activities.
2. co-operate with their employer to provide a safe working environment.
3. not to interfere with or misuse equipment or materials.
For further details of the Act see the Government web site.
4 A positive attitude and behaviour will form part of a good safety culture within an organisation, aiming to look after the best interests of all workers.
It is often this workplace cultural aspect that can become complacent and this in turn creates a negative spiral in which the likelihood of an injury occurring to an employee, or passer-by, or damage to equipment, increases significantly.