Health and Safety in the Workplace: What You Need to Know
Darren Edwards • Jan 29, 2014

Is the NEW health and safety poster being displayed in your premises yet?

The new Health and Safety Executive workplace poster.

As of the 5th April 2014, the old style Health and Safety posters and pocket guides become redundant. From that date, it is a legal requirement for ALL premises to display the new style of poster.

These can be ordered directly from the HSE website on the link below:

But what exactly does the poster mean?

It is an employees right to work in an environment with minimal or no health and safety issues. Although it is the employers’ job to ensure health and safety at work, workers and employees must all play their part.

According to hse.gov.uk (HSE), these are the responsibilities of the employer:

•    Complete risk assessments so that anything that could potentially harm people in the workplace can be properly identified and addressed. This is the main reason for employers hiring health and safety advisers.
•    Explain to employees how risks can be controlled and who’s responsible for controlling them.
•    Work side by side with employees to uphold health and safety in the workplace.
•    Offer free health and safety training to employees.
•    Provide free safety equipment and clothing to employees.
•    Provide clean drinking water and sufficient washing facilities to employees.
•    Provide first –aid kits and equipment in the workplace.
•    Report any incidents of injuries and accidents at work to the proper authority.
•    Provide the necessary insurance coverage.
•    Coordinate with other contractors in the workplace in upholding the health and safety of everyone on the site.

Health and safety in the workplace is not only the responsibility of the employers, but the workers as well. Here are some of the things employees must do:

•    Attend health and safety training and use the safety equipment provided by their employer.
•    Always be alert when in the workplace.
•    Inform their employers or safety advisers if they feel that there are any health and safety issues that haven’t been addressed yet.

If there are any health and safety issues that are not properly addressed after an employer has been informed, an employee can then consult the local enforcing authority or get in touch with the HSE Employment Medical Advisory Service at hse.gov.uk.

Finally, if you need help or advice, or if you need an expert Health and Safety Adviser, Llewellyn Europe can help, call us now on 01933 445260.

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