Health and Safety Duties for Employers

 

General Duties

Employers must ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of all employees.

 

In addition, where more than four people are employed, a written statement must be produced outlining the policy of the company and the method used to meet these duties.  (Health and Safety at Work (NI) Order 1978).

 

Go to www.hse.gov.uk for information on Safety Management

 

Go to www.hse.gov.uk for information on Health and Safety Basics

Risk Assessment

Employers must assess the risks to employees and other people who would be affected while at work.  Measures to control these risks must be established to meet legal requirements.  (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (NI) 2000).

 

Where there are more than 4 employees risk assessments  and all significant findings must be written down.

 

Go to www.hse.gov.uk for the free leaflet – 5 Steps to Risk Assessment

 

Structures and Equipment

Minimum standards for buildings, equipment and cleanliness, comfort and meals must be met.  (Workplace (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations (NI) 1993, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (NI) 1993).

 

Moving and Lifting Goods etc.

Where anything is moved by physical strength, an assessment must be made of the load, the person and the hazard to ensure that no risk is present.  (Manual Handling Operations Regulations (NI) 1992).

 

Hazardous Substances

Employers must assess the risks that might arise from the use of chemicals (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (NI) 2000).  Most of this information can be obtained from the label on the container or from data sheets available from the supplier.  You must also assess the effects of the procedure involved and take whatever precautions are necessary to avoid harmful effects.  Advice can usually be obtained from the supplier or manufacturer.

 

Further general advice can be obtained from the Environmental Health Service.

 

Display Screen Equipment

Employers have a duty to carry out a suitable and sufficient analysis of workstations for the purpose of assessing the health and safety risks to which users are exposed. Once risks have been identified, appropriate steps should be taken to reduce risk.

  

First Aid

An employer must make an assessment of and provide equipment and facilities as are adequate for enabling first aid to be rendered to employees if they are injured or become ill at work. (Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations (NI) 1982.

 

At least one first aid container with a sufficient quantity of first aid materials should be provided at each site. Tablets and medications should not be kept.