Tuesday, 3 April 2012


All work activities are covered by health and safety laws. The Health and Safety Executive enforces a range of legislation, including;
  • The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Regulations made under this act apply to all work situations, for example the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations.
  • Other laws that cover particular hazards, such as parts of the Food and Environmental Protection Act and the Control of Pesticides Regulations, both of which are about pesticides.
  • Laws that cover health and safety in specific industries such as mining, nuclear, railway, explosives and offshore oil and gas;
  • Older laws that predate the Health and safety at Work Act, and cover a range of industries, but not all workplaces, such as the Factories Act and regulations made under it. Most of these laws are gradually being modernised.
Although all working situations are covered by health and safety regulations, not all workplaces are inspected by HSE. Enforcement of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act and related legislation is shared with Local Authorities who cover certain types of work activities.
For information on the basics regarding what your employer must do to make their business comply with health and safety law, please see 'Health and safety made simple'.
Both employers and workers should  read Health and safety law: what you need to know. This contains the same information that is displayed on Health and Safety law posters.
As a worker, if you have specific queries or concerns relating to health and safety in your workplace, talk to your employer, manager/supervisor or a health and safety representative.
If you think your employer is exposing you to risks or is not carrying out their legal duties  regards to health and safety and this has been pointed this out to them and no satisfactory response has been received, you can make a complaint to HSE.

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