Are you covered by health and safety
laws?
Yes. 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 more detail on your responsibilities, and how health and safety law
is meant to work, HSE has produced a booklet Health and Safety Regulation: A short guide. You
should 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 boss, or - if you have one - your
safety representative or trade union representative.
If you think your employer is exposing you to risks or is not
carrying out legal duties, and you have pointed this out 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
