Whole of Health and Safety

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Health and Safety at Work Act 1972

Under this act, employers are legally required to do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of employees, and the health ansdsafety of non-employers such as students and visitors to a school.

Regulations are put in place to ensure that procedures safeguard the risk of injury to people.

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Personal Protective Equipment at Work Act 1992

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regualtions, 1992 state that employers have basic duties concerning the provision and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at work.

PPE is defined as:

"all equipment (including clothing providing protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health and safety."

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Equipment you should wear to protect you and conte

Equipment you should wear to work to protect you:

  • Safety Helmets
  • Gloves
  • Eye protection (goggles or shields)
  • Safety footwear
  • High Visibility jackets and clothing
  • Face masks
  • Respirartors

Personal Protective Equipment-Content

The main requirment of the regulations is that PPE is to be supplied and used at work wherever there are risks that cannot be adequately controlled in other ways. The regualtions that also require PPE is:

  • Properly assessed before use to ensure it is suitable
  • Maintained and stored properly
  • Provided with instructions on how to use it safely
  • Used correctly by employees
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Signage 1

The Safety Signs Regulation Act 1996 requires employers to display an appropriate safety sign and instruction wherever a significant harm or risk cannot be avoided or reduced by any other means. These bring into force a European directive whose purpose is to encourage the standardisation of safety signs throughout Europe so that Safety signs, wherever they are seen have the same meaning.

Prohibitation Signs- used to prohibit actions to prevent personal injury and the risk of fire. Mandatory Signs-used to convey action that must be taken, e.g. procedures in the case of fire. Warning Signs- used to warn personnel of possible dangers in the workplace.                           Safe Contdition signs-used to show directions to areas of safety and medical assisstance and where a safe area is.

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Warning Symbols

These are placed on products to provide health and safety information for the consumer. Many warning symbols appear on the packaging of adhesives and domestic cleaning a long with additional safety instructions that outline any potential risks to users.

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Health and Safety Excecutive Risk Assessments

The HSE lays down government guidelines for Health and Safety issues within the workplace, including schools. It states that all places of work must carry out risk assessments of their facilities to identify any potential hazards to employees or students, and to put in place control measures to reduce the risk of injury.

The HSE outlines its Five Steps to Risk Assessment:

  • Identify the hazard
  • Identify the people at risk
  • Evaluate the risks
  • Decide upon suitable control measures
  • Record the Risk Assessment
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The Difference between a risk and a hazard

Hazard- Potential of risk from a substance, machine or operation.

Risk-Reality of harm from the hazard.

Control measure-Action taken to minimise the risks to people.

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Contol of Substances Hazardous to Health

These regulations place a duty on employers to make an assessment of risks for work involving exposure to substances hazardous to health. Steps must be taken to prevent or control adequately the exposure of employees and others to these substances.

Hazardous substances include:

  • Substances used directly in work activities such as adhesives, paints and cleaning agents.
  • Substances generated during work activities such as fumes from soldering and welding.
  • Naturally occuring substances such as dust.
  • Biological agents such as bacteria and other micro organisms. 
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