Roles and Responsibilities.

Read the handout “Health & Safety Law, what you need to know”, then answer the following
questions.

Q1 - Explain 10 things that employers must do for you.

1. Decide what could harm you in your job and the precautions to stop it. This
is part of risk assessment.

2. In a way you can understand, explain how risks will be controlled and tell you who
is responsible for this.

3. Consult and work with you and your health and safety representatives in
protecting everyone from harm in the workplace.

4. Free of charge, give you the health and safety training you need to do your
job.

5. Free of charge, provide you with any equipment and protective clothing you need,
and ensure it is properly looked after.

6. Provide toilets, washing facilities and drinking water.

7. Provide adequate first-aid facilities.

8. Report major injuries and fatalities at work to our Incident Contact Centre: 0345 300
9923. Report other injuries, diseases and dangerous incidents online at
www.hse.gov.uk.

9. Have insurance that covers you in case you get hurt at work or ill through work.
Display a hard copy or electronic copy of the current insurance certificate where you
can easily read it.

10. Work with any other employers or contractors sharing the workplace or
providing employees (such as agency workers), so that everyone’s health and
safety is protected.

Q2 – Explain 4 things that you must do.

1 Follow the training you have received when using any work items your employer has
given you.

2 Take reasonable care of your own and other people’s health and safety.

3 Co-operate with your employer on health and safety.

4 Tell someone (your employer, supervisor, or health and safety representative) if you
think the work or inadequate precautions are putting anyone’s health and safety at
serious risk.
Q3 – What action would you take if there was a problem with health and safety

If you are worried about health and safety in your workplace, talk to your employer,
supervisor, or health and safety representative.

HASAWA 1974

Read handout 02 – HASAWA 1974, then answer the following questions.

Q1 – What is the aim of the HASAWA 1974?

The Act sets out the general duties which employers have towards employees and

members of the public, and employees have to themselves and to each other.

Q2 – What is the main requirement on employers?

The main requirement on employers is to carry out a risk assessment. Employers with five or more
employees need to record the significant findings of the risk

Q3 – Explain 5 additional things that employers are required to do.

1. Make arrangements for implementing the health and safety measures identified as necessary
by the risk assessment;
2. Appoint competent people (often themselves or company colleagues) to help them to
implement the arrangements;
3. Set up emergency procedures;
4. Provide clear information and training to employees;
5. Work together with other employers sharing the same workplace.

Q4 – How are regulations applied across different industries?

Some regulations apply across all companies, such as the Manual Handling

Regulations which apply wherever things are moved by hand or bodily force, and

the Display Screen Equipment Regulations which apply wherever VDUs are used.

Other regulations apply to hazards unique to specific industries, such as mining or

nuclear.

Q5 – List 5 regulations that apply to all industries.

1. HSC’s Industry and Subject Advisory Committees, which have members drawn from the areas
of work they cover, and focus on health and safety issues in particular industries (such as the
textile industry, construction and education or areas such as toxic substances and genetic
modification);
2. Intermediaries, such as small firms’ organisations;
3. Providing information and advice to employers and others with responsibilities under the
Health and Safety at Work Act;
4. Guidance to enforcers, both HSE inspectors and those of local authorities;
5. The day-to-day contact which inspectors have with people at work.

Q6 – List 7 regulations that only cover certain areas.

Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002:

require suppliers to classify, label and package dangerous chemicals and

provide safety data sheets for them.

Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994: cover safe systems

of work on construction sites.

Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1994: cover safe installation,

maintenance and use of gas systems and appliances in domestic and

commercial premises.

Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999: require those who

manufacture, store or transport dangerous chemicals or explosives in certain

quantities to notify the relevant authority.

Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002: require

employers and the self-employed to carry out a risk assessment of work

activities involving dangerous substances.