5 important things you need to know about H&S

5 important things you need to know about Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Act is a comprehensive document that can seem incredibly overwhelming.  It is filled with detailed checklists and pages upon pages of rules.  However, the nitty gritty of the Act can be summarised into the most important aspects that you must be aware of.

Here are 5 critical things about Health and Safety you need to know:

1. Employers are responsible for overseeing the health, safety and welfare of all of their employees.  This includes managing health and safety measures, reviewing procedures, writing up a formal policy, keeping records, delegating responsibilities, training staff, and following all protocols laid out in the Health and Safety Act.
2. Regular risk assessments must be conducted to identify any potential hazards in the workplace.  This will ensure that controls are put in place to prevent accidents from happening as far as possible.
3. Employees must be provided with sufficient health and safety training, especially as applicable to their duties. All employees also need to be supervised when working with dangerous machinery and provided with protective clothing.
4. Work places must be maintained to a very high standard, with proper housekeeping and organisation.
5. In the event of an emergency, first aid must be provided on site, fire equipment correctly used, and emergency exits clearly demarcated.  All injuries and accidents must be recorded in writing.