Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

 


This Act is the basis of British health and safety law.  It sets out the general duties which employers have “as far as reasonably practicable” towards employees and members of the public, and employees have towards themselves and to each other.

The employer’s duties are:

  1. To ensure the health & safety of employees and others affected
  2. Provision and maintenance of safe plant and systems of work
  3. Ensure employees are competent

A short guide is available
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsc13.pdf

Full document:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.pdf

Regulations made under the Act are:

  1. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
  2. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR)
  3. Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
  4. and others e.g. CDM 2007, PUWER 1998

Some other legislation includes:

  1. RIDDOR - Duty to report accidents, incidents, Dangerous Occurrences
  2. Corporate Manslaughter & Corporate Homicide Act 2007

The above legislation is supported by Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) and published Guidance

Standards & Testing:

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM)

PPE Regulations

Electrical Safety

Main EN standards for Thermal Protective Clothing

Quantifying The Arc Rating Of A Protective Garment

DuPont™ Arc-Man®

Flash Fire Protection

NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®