Health and safety, in practical steps.

In Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the main framework for workplace health and safety. Employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, protect their employees and other people who could be affected by the work.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess risks and put suitable arrangements in place to manage them. Look for ways to remove hazards; where that is not reasonably practicable, put effective controls in place. The duty to manage risks applies whatever the size of the business. HSE’s small-business guidance helps keep the approach proportionate and avoid unnecessary paperwork, but it does not remove the duty.

Official sources: Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk) · Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (legislation.gov.uk) · HSE: The law on managing health and safety · HSE: Health and safety basics for your business

Work through the hazards in your actual workplace, including routine tasks, equipment and less frequent jobs such as cleaning or maintenance.

1. Identify hazards. Look for anything that could cause harm in the way work is done, the premises, substances or equipment.
2. Consider who could be harmed and how. Think about employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public.
3. Evaluate the risks and precautions. Consider how likely harm is, how serious it could be and whether your current controls are enough.
4. Record significant findings and act. If you have 5 or more employees, record the significant findings. Assign actions and put controls into practice.
5. Review and update. Check that controls still work. Revisit the assessment when work practices, staff, processes or equipment change, or after a problem, accident or near miss.

A written assessment does not control a risk by itself. Make the agreed precautions part of the work and check that they are being followed.

Official source: HSE: Steps needed to manage risk · Management Regulations 1999, regulation 3 (legislation.gov.uk)

Employers with 5 or more employees must have a written health and safety policy. Share it with employees, including any changes, so people know how safety is managed and who to speak to.

1. Statement of intentSet out your commitment and aims. The employer or most senior person signs it and reviews it regularly.
2. ResponsibilitiesName the people with health and safety responsibilities and describe their roles.
3. Practical arrangementsExplain how you will manage the work, such as risk assessments, training, signs and equipment.

Official sources: HSE: Prepare a health and safety policy · HSE: How to write your policy

Talk with employees about the risks in their work and the measures used to control them. Consultation is two-way: give people time to raise concerns and take their views into account before decisions are made.

Official sources: HSE: Consult your workers · HSE: What the law says about consulting workers

In Great Britain, the responsible person reports work-related incidents covered by RIDDOR. This is usually the employer for an employee, but responsibility can depend on the incident and who controls the work premises.

• Work-related deaths.
• Specified injuries to workers.
• A worker injury that prevents normal duties for more than 7 consecutive days (not counting the day of the accident; weekends and rest days count).
• Certain injuries to people who are not at work, when they are taken directly from the incident scene to hospital for treatment.
• Diagnosed reportable occupational diseases linked to work.
• Certain dangerous occurrences, including some serious near misses.

If a worker is unable to do their normal duties for more than 3 consecutive days, the injury must be recorded even when it does not meet the RIDDOR reporting threshold. Reporting is about notifying the enforcing authority; it does not depend on assigning blame.

Official sources: HSE: Types of reportable incidents · HSE: Who should report under RIDDOR · HSE: RIDDOR explained · Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013