Any prospective
employer setting up a new business
should be aware of six important
regulations which came about as a result
of membership to the European Union and
are incorporated into UK law.
Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations 1992
places an obligation on the employer to
actively carry out a risk assessment of
the work place and act accordingly.
Work place (Health,
Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
deals with maintenance of the premises
e.g. floors and corridors etc.
Provision And Use Of
The Work Equipment Regulations 1992
deals with guarding dangerous machines.
The Manual Handling
Operations Regulations 1992
deals with the manual handling of
equipment, stocks, materials etc.
Personal Protective
Equipment Work Regulations 1992
deals with the introduction of
protective clothing etc. where
necessary.
The Health & Safety (Display Screen
Equipment) Regulations 1992 introduced
measures to prevent repetitive strain
injury, fatigue, eye problems etc. in
the use of technological equipment.
The Health & Safety
Executive and the Environmental Health
Departments for the local authorities
are responsible for enforcing the Health
& Safety at Work Act 1974 and the
various regulations.
They can provide
information and guidance as well as
enter premises to investigate conditions
or seize and destroy harmful substances.
They can also prosecute employers or
serve Notices on them to improve working
conditions, or in some cases serve
Notices that work should stop
altogether.
The Interactive
Law Group