Under the law employers are responsible for health and safety management. This page provides a broad outline of how the law applies to employers. Don't forget, employees and the self employed have important responsibilities too!.
It is an employer's duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees, and other people who might be affected by their business. Your employer must do whatever is reasonably practicable to achieve this.
This means making sure that you and others are protected from anything that may cause harm, effectively controlling any risks to injury or health that could arise in the workplace.
Your employer has duties under health and safety law to assess risks in the workplace. Risk assessments should be carried out that address all risks that might cause harm in your workplace.
Your employer must give you information about the risks in your workplace and how you are protected and instruct and train you on how to deal with the risks.
Your employer must consult you on health and safety issues, either directly or through a safety representative that is either elected by the workforce or appointed by a trade union.
For more details on this and how health and safety law works, HSE has produced a booklet Health and Safety Regulation: A short guide. You can also read Health and safety law: What you should know.
If you have specific queries on health and safety issues in your workplace, first ask your manager. Your safety representative or trade union representative may also be able to help, where they exist.
If you think your employer is exposing you to risks or is not carrying out their legal duty in regards to health and safety, and you have pointed this out to them without getting a satisfactory response, you can contact us. We treat all contacts in strictest confidence.
Remember: for confidential help and information you can contact the HSE Infoline.
Tel: 0845 345 0055 or email: hse.infoline@natbrit.com