HealthandSafety Executive

Healthandsafetyregulation...

...ashortguide

Health and safety regulation .... .... a short guide

Whythisguide?
TheHealthandSafetyCommission(HSC)conducteda reviewofhealthandsafety regulationin1994. Itfoundthatpeoplewereconfusedaboutthedifferences between:

guidance; ApprovedCodesofPractice(ACOPs);and regulations

andhowtheyrelatetoeachother. Thisdocumentaimstoexplainhoweachfitsin.Itisforemployersandself employedpeople,butwillbeofinteresttoanyonewhowantstoknowhowhealth andsafetylawismeanttowork.

Thisisawebfriendly versionofleaflet HSC13(rev1),revised 08/03

Whathealthandsafetylawrequires
ThebasisofBritishhealthandsafetylawistheHealthandSafetyatWorketc Act1974. TheActsetsoutthegeneraldutieswhichemployershavetowardsemployeesand membersofthepublic,andemployeeshavetothemselvesandtoeachother. ThesedutiesarequalifiedintheActbytheprincipleofsofarasisreasonably practicable. Inotherwords,anemployerdoesnothavetotakemeasurestoavoid orreducetheriskiftheyaretechnicallyimpossibleorifthetime,troubleorcostof themeasureswouldbegrosslydisproportionatetotherisk. Whatthelawrequireshereiswhatgoodmanagementandcommonsensewould leademployerstodoanyway:thatis,tolookatwhattherisksareandtake sensiblemeasurestotacklethem. TheManagementofHealthandSafetyatWorkRegulations1999(the ManagementRegulations) generallymakemoreexplicitwhatemployersare requiredtodotomanagehealthandsafetyundertheHealthandSafetyatWork Act.LiketheAct,theyapplytoeveryworkactivity. Themainrequirementonemployersistocarryoutariskassessment. Employers withfiveormoreemployeesneedtorecordthesignificantfindingsoftherisk assessment. Riskassessmentshouldbestraightforwardinasimpleworkplacesuchasatypical office.Itshouldonlybecomplicatedifitdealswithserioushazardssuchasthose onanuclearpowerstation,achemicalplant,laboratoryoranoilrig.
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TheHSEleafletFivestepstoriskassessment willgiveyoumoreinformation. Besidescarryingoutariskassessment,employersalsoneedto:

makearrangementsforimplementingthehealthandsafetymeasuresidentified

as necessarybytheriskassessment;
appointcompetentpeople(oftenthemselvesorcompanycolleagues)tohelp

themtoimplementthearrangements;
setupemergencyprocedures; provideclearinformationandtrainingtoemployees; worktogetherwithotheremployerssharingthesameworkplace.

Otherregulations requireactioninresponsetoparticularhazards,orinindustries wherehazardsareparticularlyhigh.Alistofthemainregulationswhichapply generallyisinAppendix1.Manyarenotqualifiedbyreasonablepracticability.

Europeanlaw
InrecentyearsmuchofBritainshealthandsafetylawhasoriginatedinEurope. ProposalsfromtheEuropeanCommissionmaybeagreedbyMemberStates,who arethenresponsibleformakingthempartoftheirdomesticlaw. Modernhealthandsafetylawinthiscountry,includingmuchofthatfromEurope, isbasedontheprincipleofriskassessmentdescribedabove.

Actiononhealthandsafety:Options
TheHealthandSafetyCommissionanditsoperatingarm,theExecutive(HSC/E), havespentovertwentyyearsmodernisingthestructureofhealthandsafetylaw. Theiraimsaretoprotectthehealth,safetyandwelfareofemployees,andto safeguardothers,principallythepublic,whomaybeexposedtorisksfromwork activity. HSC/Econsultfullywithpeopleaffectedbytheirlegislativeproposals,andadopt variousapproachesbasedonassessingandcontrollingrisk(seeWhathealthand safetylawrequires). AmongthethingsthatcanpromptactionfromHSC/Eare:
changesintechnologies,industriesorrisks; evidenceofaccidentsandillhealth,pluspublicconcern; EuropeanDirectives.

WhereHSC/Econsideractionisnecessarytosupplementexistingarrangements, theirthreemainoptionsare:
guidance; ApprovedCodesofPractice;and regulations.

HSC/Etrytotakewhicheveroption,oroptions,allowsemployersmostflexibility andcoststhemleast,whileprovidingpropersafeguardsforemployeesandthe public.

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Guidance HSEpublishesguidanceonarangeofsubjects(pleaseseetheendofthisguide). Guidancecanbespecifictothehealthandsafetyproblemsofanindustryorofa particularprocessusedinanumberofindustries. Themainpurposesofguidanceare:

tointerprethelpingpeopletounderstandwhatthelawsaysincludingfor

examplehowrequirementsbasedonECDirectivesfitwiththoseunderthe HealthandSafetyatWorkAct; tohelppeoplecomplywiththelaw; togivetechnicaladvice. Followingguidanceisnotcompulsoryandemployersarefreetotakeotheraction. Butiftheydofollowguidancetheywillnormallybedoingenoughtocomplywith thelaw.(PleasealsoseethesectionsbelowonApprovedCodesofPracticeand regulations,whichexplainotherwaysinwhichemployersarehelpedtoknow whethertheyaredoingwhatthelawrequires.) HSC/Eaimtokeepguidanceuptodate,becauseastechnologieschange,risks andthemeasuresneededtoaddressthemchangetoo. ApprovedCodesofPractice ApprovedCodesofPracticeofferpracticalexamplesofgoodpractice. Theygiveadviceonhowtocomplywiththelawby,forexample,providingaguide towhatisreasonablypracticable.Forexample,ifregulationsusewordslike suitableandsufficient,anApprovedCodeofPracticecanillustratewhatthis requiresinparticularcircumstances. ApprovedCodesofPracticehavea speciallegalstatus. Ifemployersare prosecutedforabreachofhealthandsafetylaw,anditisprovedthattheyhave notfollowedtherelevantprovisionsoftheApprovedCodeofPractice,acourtcan findthematfaultunlesstheycanshowthattheyhavecompliedwiththelawin someotherway. HSCconsultedin1995ontheroleofApprovedCodesofPracticeinthehealth andsafetysystemandconcludedthattheycouldstillbeusedinsupportoflegal dutiesinspecificcircumstances. Regulations Regulationsarelaw,approvedbyParliament.Theseareusuallymadeunderthe HealthandSafetyatWorkAct,followingproposalsfromHSC.Thisappliesto regulationsbasedonECDirectivesaswellashomegrownones. TheHealthandSafetyatWorkAct,andgeneraldutiesintheManagement Regulations,aregoalsetting(seeWhatformdotheytake?)andleaveemployers freedomtodecidehowtocontrolriskswhichtheyidentify.GuidanceandApproved CodesofPracticegiveadvice.Butsomerisksaresogreat,orthepropercontrol measuressocostly,thatitwouldnotbeappropriatetoleaveemployersdiscretion indecidingwhattodoaboutthem.Regulationsidentifytheserisksandsetout specificactionthatmustbetaken.Oftentheserequirementsareabsolutetodo somethingwithoutqualificationbywhetheritisreasonablypracticable.

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Howregulationsapply
Someregulationsapplyacrossallcompanies,suchastheManualHandling Regulationswhichapplywhereverthingsaremovedbyhandorbodilyforce,and theDisplayScreenEquipmentRegulationswhichapplywhereverVDUsareused. Otherregulationsapplytohazardsuniquetospecificindustries,suchasminingor nuclear.

Whatformdotheytake?
HSCwillwhereappropriateproposeregulationsin goalsetting form:thatis,setting outwhat mustbeachieved,butnot how itmustbedone. Sometimesitisnecessarytobe prescriptive, thatisspellingoutindetailwhat shouldbedone.Somestandardsareabsolute.Forexample,allminesshouldhave twoexits;contactswithliveelectricalconductorsshouldbeavoided.Sometimes Europeanlawrequiresprescription. Someactivitiesorsubstancesaresoinherentlyhazardousthattheyrequire licensing, forexampleexplosivesandasbestosremoval.Certainbigandcomplex installationsoroperationsrequiresafetycases,whicharelargescalerisk assessmentssubjecttoscrutinybytheregulator.Forexample,railwaycompanies arerequiredtoproducesafetycasesfortheiroperations.

Therelationshipbetweentheregulatorandindustry
Asmentionedabove,HSCconsultswidelywiththoseaffectedbyitsproposals. HSC/Eworkthrough:
HSCsIndustryandSubjectAdvisoryCommittees,whichhavemembersdrawn

fromtheareasofworktheycover,andfocusonhealthandsafetyissuesin particularindustries(suchasthetextileindustry,constructionandeducationor areassuchastoxicsubstancesandgeneticmodification); intermediaries,suchassmallfirmsorganisations; providinginformationandadvicetoemployersandotherswithresponsibilities undertheHealthandSafetyatWorkAct; guidancetoenforcers,bothHSEinspectorsandthoseoflocalauthorities; thedaytodaycontactwhichinspectorshavewithpeopleatwork.

HSCdirectlycanvassestheviewsofsmallbusinesses.Italsoseeksviewsindetail fromrepresentativesofsmallbusinessesabouttheimpactonthemofproposed legislation.

Whatnext?
TheReviewofRegulationconcludedthatthepresentsystemofhealthandsafety regulationgenerallyworkswell,thoughitidentifiedseveralareaswhere improvementscanbemade. AlthoughtheReviewhasended,ourworkinsupportofBetterRegulation continues.TheReviewprogrammehasformedanimportantbasisforlonglasting successesinimprovingworkplacehealthandsafety.Policiesandinitiativesflowing fromitcontinuetosupportourpriorityaimsandobjectives,andwillberefinedin thecomingyears,adaptingandevolvingtotakeaccountofchangesintechnology, workplacetrendsandtheneedsofthoseinvolved.
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Appendix1:Someimportantpiecesofhealthandsafety legislation
BesidestheHealthandSafetyatWorkActitself,thefollowingapplyacross thefullrangeofworkplaces: 1 ManagementofHealthandSafetyatWorkRegulations1999: require employerstocarryoutriskassessments,makearrangementstoimplement necessarymeasures,appointcompetentpeopleandarrangeforappropriate informationandtraining. 2 Workplace(Health,SafetyandWelfare)Regulations1992: coverawiderange ofbasichealth,safetyandwelfareissuessuchasventilation,heating,lighting, workstations,seatingandwelfarefacilities. 3 HealthandSafety(DisplayScreenEquipment)Regulations1992: setout requirementsforworkwithVisualDisplayUnits(VDUs). 4 PersonalProtectiveEquipmentatWorkRegulations1992: requireemployersto provideappropriateprotectiveclothingandequipmentfortheiremployees. 5 ProvisionandUseofWorkEquipmentRegulations1998: requirethat equipmentprovidedforuseatwork,includingmachinery,issafe. 6 ManualHandlingOperationsRegulations1992: coverthemovingofobjectsby handorbodilyforce. 7 HealthandSafety(FirstAid)Regulations1981: coverrequirementsfor firstaid. 8 TheHealthandSafetyInformationforEmployeesRegulations1989: require employerstodisplayapostertellingemployeeswhattheyneedtoknowabout healthandsafety. 9 EmployersLiability(CompulsoryInsurance)Act1969:requireemployers totakeoutinsuranceagainstaccidentsandillhealthtotheiremployees. 10 ReportingofInjuries,DiseasesandDangerousOccurrencesRegulations1995 (RIDDOR): requireemployerstonotifycertainoccupationalinjuries,diseases anddangerousevents. 11 NoiseatWorkRegulations1989: requireemployerstotakeactiontoprotect employeesfromhearingdamage. 12 ElectricityatWorkRegulations1989: requirepeopleincontrolofelectrical systemstoensuretheyaresafetouseandmaintainedinasafecondition. 13 ControlofSubstancesHazardoustoHealthRegulations2002(COSHH): requireemployerstoassesstherisksfromhazardoussubstancesandtake appropriateprecautions. Inaddition,specificregulationscoverparticularareas,forexampleasbestos andlead,and: 14 Chemicals(HazardInformationandPackagingforSupply)Regulations2002: requiresupplierstoclassify,labelandpackagedangerouschemicalsand providesafetydatasheetsforthem. 15 Construction(DesignandManagement)Regulations1994: coversafesystems ofworkonconstructionsites. 16 GasSafety(InstallationandUse)Regulations1994: coversafeinstallation, maintenanceanduseofgassystemsandappliancesindomesticand commercialpremises. 17 ControlofMajorAccidentHazardsRegulations1999:requirethosewho manufacture,storeortransportdangerouschemicalsorexplosivesincertain quantitiestonotifytherelevantauthority. 18 DangerousSubstancesandExplosiveAtmospheresRegulations2002: require employersandtheselfemployedtocarryoutariskassessmentofwork activitiesinvolvingdangeroussubstances.

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Appendix2:Furtherreading
Basicadviceonfirstaidatwork LeafletINDG347HSEBooks2002(singlecopy freeorpricedpacksof20ISBN0717622614) Controlofsubstanceshazardoustohealth.TheControlofSubstancesHazardous toHealthRegulations2002.ApprovedCodeofPracticeandguidanceL5(Fourth edition)HSEBooks2002ISBN0717625346 Essentialsofhealthandsafetyatwork (Thirdedition)GuidanceHSEBooks1994 ISBN071760716X Fivestepstoriskassessment LeafletINDG163(rev1)HSEBooks1998(singlecopy freeorpricedpacksof10ISBN0717615650) A guidetotheReportingofInjuries,DiseasesandDangerousOccurrences Regulations1995 L73 (Secondedition)HSEBooks1999ISBN0717624315 Healthandsafetylaw:Whatyoushouldknow(rev1)LeafletHSEBooks1999 (availableinpricedpacksof25ISBN0717617025) Healthandsafetylaw:Whatyoushouldknow(Secondedition)PosterHSEBooks 1999ISBN0717624935 ThelawonVDUs: Aneasyguide:MakingsureyourofficecomplieswiththeHealth andSafety(DisplayScreenEquipment)Regulations1992(asamendedin2002) HSG90HSEBooks2003ISBN0717626024 Managementofhealthandsafetyatwork. ManagementofHealthandSafetyat WorkRegulations1999.ApprovedCodeofPracticeandguidance L21(Second edition)HSEBooks2000ISBN0717624889 Manualhandling:Solutionsyoucanhandle HSG115HSEBooks1994 ISBN0717606937 MemorandumofguidanceontheElectricityatWorkRegulations1989.Guidance onRegulations HSR25HSEBooks1989ISBN0717616029 Safeuseofworkequipment. ProvisionandUseofWorkEquipmentRegulations 1998.ApprovedCodeofPracticeandguidance L22(Secondedition)HSEBooks 1998ISBN0717616266 Safetyintheinstallationanduseofgassystemsandappliances.GasSafety (InstallationandUse)Regulations1998.ApprovedCodeofPracticeandguidance L56(Secondedition)HSEBooks1998ISBN0717616355 A shortguidetothePersonalProtectiveEquipmentatWorkRegulations1992 LeafletINDG174HSEBooks1995(singlecopyfreeorpricedpacksof10 ISBN0717608891) WorkingwithVDUs LeafletINDG36(rev1)HSEBooks1998(singlecopyfreeor pricedpacksof10ISBN0717615049) Workplacehealth,safetyandwelfare:Ashortguideformanagers LeafletINDG244 HSEBooks1997(singlecopyfreeorpricedpacksof10ISBN0717613283)

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HSEproducesawiderangeofdocuments.Someareavailableasprinted
publications,bothpricedandfree,andothersareonlyaccessibleviatheHSE
website,www.hse.gov.uk.
HSEpricedandfreepublicationsareavailablebymailorderfromHSEBooks,
POBox1999,Sudbury,SuffolkCO102WATel:01787881165Fax:01787313995
Website:www.hsebooks.co.uk(HSEpricedpublicationsarealsoavailablefrom
bookshopsandfreeleafletscanbedownloadedfromHSEswebsite:
www.hse.gov.uk.)
ForinformationabouthealthandsafetyringHSEsInfolineTel:08453450055
Fax:08454089566Textphone:08454089577email:hse.infoline@natbrit.comor
writetoHSEInformationServices,CaerphillyBusinessPark,CaerphillyCF833GG.
Thisdocumentcontainsnotesongoodpracticewhicharenotcompulsory butwhichyoumayfindhelpfulinconsideringwhatyouneedtodo. Thisdocumentisavailablewebonlyat: www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/information.htm Crowncopyright Thispublicationmaybefreelyreproduced,exceptfor advertising,endorsementorcommercialpurposes.Firstpublished08/03.Please acknowledgethesourceasHSE.

PublishedbytheHealthandSafetyExecutive

HSC13(rev1)

08/03

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