Health and Safety Rules

Different countries have different Health and Safety laws but they do resemble each other closely.

Usually the objectives of all these Acts include the following:

The safety, health and welfare of all people at the workplace should be protected.

People at work should be protected against risks and dangers arising at work.


Explosive and highly inflammable substances should be obtained, kept and used in a safe way as prescribed by the applicable regulation.

Emissions of noxious, harmful or offensive nocuous substances should be controlled according to the law.

Duties

Usually the Health and Safety Act would prescribe duties and responsibilities to persons and companies and all concerned with the health, safety and welfare of people at work.

Duties are usually imposed upon;

Employees, Permanent and Temporary
Employers
Manufacturers and suppliers.
Designers, importers, transporters and exporters.
The self employed and even home businesses.
Those controlling premises and buildings.

Employers’ duties and responsibilities.

Employers should provide information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety of employees and relevant non-employees

Employers should;

-design a Health and Safety Policy.
-make a full assessment of the workplace and identify the hazards.
-introduce and impose effective control measures.
-constantly monitor the effectiveness of control measures introduced.

Further the employer should provide and maintain;

-a safe plant or place of work with proper, safe means of entry and exit.
-safe tools, appliances, machinery and equipment.
-safe systems and work procedures.
-highly trained, competent and safety-conscious personnel.

Employee’s duties and responsibilities.

Employees in management position have the duty to oversee the proper execution of health and safety rules otherwise they could be prosecuted and imprisoned.

Every employee should take reasonable care of their own health and safety as well as that of others who are working with them at the same workplace.

Every employee should cooperate with the employer to comply with health and safety laws and regulations.