Employers' Minimum Requirements

Employers' Minimum Health & Safety Requirements:

If you have any suspicion that you do not comply with the requirements listed below, contact us today because the consequences can be very serious including fines, imprisonment, prohibition notices or disqualification. Call Park City today on tel: 0800 542 7550 if you require any Health & Safety assistance in your own company.

Protect the Health & Safety of your Staff and Others:

You, the employer have a legal responsibility to protect the Health and Safety of your staff and other people - such as customers and members of the public - who may be affected by your work.

In general, employers must:

• Make the workplace safe and eliminate or control risks to health;

• Ensure plant and machinery are safe and that safe systems of work are set and followed;

• Ensure articles and substances are moved, stored and used safely;

• Provide adequate welfare facilities;

• Give workers the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary for their Health and Safety;

• Consult workers on health and safety matters.

Assessing Risks and Managing Health & Safety:

The law also says that employers must assess and manage the health and safety risks of their business. For example:

• Have a written policy covering their arrangements for managing health and safety in their business.

• Undertake risk assessment, to carefully examine what in the work could cause people harm. This will determine if they have taken enough precautions, or if they should do more to prevent harm.

• They must provide a safe and healthy environment for all including taking account of their welfare needs. This also includes people with disabilities.

• They must train their employees and contractors to work safely, and clearly instruct them in their duties.

• Emergency arrangements for fire and first aid must be assessed and formally established.

Health & Safety Training:

Everyone who works for you, including those who are self-employed, needs to know how to work safely and without risks to health. So you need to train them to be sure they know:

• What hazards and risks they may face;

• How to deal with them;

• Any emergency procedures.

• Health and safety training should take place during working hours and must not be paid for by employees.

Ongoing Consultation:

Employers must consult their workers on health and safety.

Consultation is a two-way process - it does not just mean simply telling your workers about health and safety.

It means discussing health and safety with them, allowing them to raise concerns and influence decisions.

You have to consult all workers. In a very small business, you may choose to consult each employee separately. However, most organisations consult staff through their health and safety representative.