The Health and Safety at Work Act

Are you involved m the transport of dangerous substances by road (replaced by IND(G)234L) COSHH and Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work Act Permit-to-work systems. (Chemical manufacturing)... 

In the United Kingdom, the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and regulations made under it require occupiers to provide a safe plant and system of work and adequate instruction, training, and supervision. In the European community, occupiers of major hazard sites are required to produce a safety case, which describes how hazards have been assessed and are kept under control. Many other countries have similar legislation, though standards of enforcement vary. 

There is a wide range of legislation laying down standards of safety and health. In the UK, the most notable and wide ranging are the Factories Act 1961, the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act 1988, breach of any of which can result in liability to civil and/or criminal action against the offenders. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 gives the relevant fire authority the power to designate a place of work as premises requiring a fire certificate. This certificate will indicate the measures to be taken with respect to means of escape in the event of a fire when the structural design of... 

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1989 covers virtually all substances hazardous to health. Only asbestos, lead, materials producing ionizing radiation and substances below ground in mines (which all have their own legislation) are excluded. The Regulations set out measures that employers must implement. Failure to comply with COSHH, in addition to exposing employees and others to risk, constitutes an offence and is subject to penalties under the Health and Safety at Work Act, etc. 1974. 

In the United Kingdom the use of substances likely to be harmful to employees is covered by regulations issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 (HSAWA). The principal set of regulations in force is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations, 2002 known under the acronym the COSHH regulations. The COSHH regulations apply to any hazardous substance in use in any place of work. 

When a Bill has been debated in Parliament and received Royal Assent it becomes law regulations made under the Acts also become law. The Factories Act of 1961 and the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 must be obeyed because they are part of criminal law. 

The fireworks industry in the UK is too small to warrant continuous attention by Parliament, but two corporate bodies have been established in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act that control safe practices within factories, including fireworks factories, and this, in turn, ensures a safe standard of products that reach the general public. 

Anybody who studies the legislation will see that BS7114 makes a notable addition to the Explosives Acts of 1875 and 1923, the Fireworks Act of 1951, the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, the Consumer Protection Acts of 1978 and 1987, and the Classification and Labelling of Explosives Regulations of 1983. 

There are stringent controls over emissions of particulate matter and solvent vapours—not only must a factory be of standard sufficient to meet the relevant exposure limits (which are controlled under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974, and subsequent regulations) but manufacturers have a legal duty to ensure that exposure and emissions are (in the official phrase) as low as is reasonably practicable . Specific values as limits for emissions of particulates and vapours are laid down under the Environmental Protection Act, 1990. In effect this means that there must be continuing attention to the maintenance of operating standards, and to the improvement of formulations—and on the latter, paint technologists are following two main lines of advance ... 

Other relevant legislation is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999. 

Flammable substances used and stored in the laboratory are also subject to further risk assessment and control in UK law under the the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the COSHH Regulations 2002, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 

The basis for health and safety law in the United Kingdom is provided under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA), which sets out the general duties that employers have to their employees, and members of the public, and that employees have to themselves and each other. The legislation helps to fulfil wider European requirements for health and safety and places a general duty on manufacturers to ensure that substances are safe when properly used and to carry out such tests as are necessary. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1568/85, was the first attempt at modem health and safety legislation was which contained the general health and safety duties of employers, provisions for worker representation and requirements for employers in larger enterprises to appoint occupational healdi and safety professionals to advise them on carrying out their responsibilities. Article 26 of Chapter V (echoing Dir.80/1107/EEC) obliges the emplo r to take measures to avoid or minimize the exposure of workers to hazardous agents, wherever this is practicable. In all events the level of exposure must be lower that the level defined as the exposure limit value . 

The Health and Safety at Work Act places upon employers a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees. Exposure of personnel to hazardous substances should be... 

This control has been embodied in several Acts of Parliament. There is no single Act in the UK which covers all aspects of control. All nuclear sites must comply not only with the legislation affecting nuclear matters, but also with normal industrial legislation laid down by the Health and Safety Executive, as defined in the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974). 

The Health and Safety at Work Act was introduced into Britain. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) covers almost all work situations, and places general duties on employers to provide protection for all people at work and some protection to the general public. The HSWA is of over-riding importance, and its requirements should be considered before reference to other Acts and regulations that may also be applicable (see also Appendix 2). The HSWA places a number of general duties on employers, including ... 

Legislation requires the adhesive supplier to label and classify products (as flammable, irritant, harmful, corrosive, or poisonous), as well as including standard risk phrases and safety procedures. Product information sheets must also be supplied in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, detailing a large range of product data and safe handling precautions. 

The toxicity of the chemicals used in both the adhesive and primer should be low enough to enable safe use in a normal workshop environment and on a construction site. They must satisfy the intent and requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act, and if special ventilation is necessary the requirement should be specified in detail. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, the primary legislation governing occupational health and safety in the UK. The HSE is a nondepartmenlal public body with Crown status and is accountable to the ministers of the Department for Work and Pensions. The HSE regulates work-related health and safety in the UK in partnership with local authorities its mission is the prevention of workplace death, injury, and ill health. Within the HSE, the Health and Safety Laboratory is responsible for research, scientific, and forensic services, including technical support of investigations. 

The most important recent piece of health and safety law was passed by Parliament in 1974 called the Health and Safety at Work Act. This Act gave added powers to the Inspectorate and is the basis of all modem statutory health and safety laws. This law not only increased the employer s liability for safety measures, but also put the responsibility for safety on employees too. 

Failure to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act is a criminal offence and any infringement of the law can result in heavy fines, a prison sentence or both. 

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