Health and Safety Essentials

There are many documents associated with health and safety at work. Some of them are essential in the workplace and they are listed here.

Information, advice and warning

There are various notices which must be posted in the workplace; these include a copy of the safety regulations relating to the premises, a notice entitled Health and Safety Law. What you should know . There are many reference works by the HSE and although they are not a statutory requirement most of them are extremely useful, particularly those referring to a specific work practice that you may carry out.

Licenses and certificates

Any licenses required should be displayed. Most small firms will require a Certificate of Means of Escape in Case of Fire from the fire authority or fire brigade. A certificate of Employers Liability Insurance should also be displayed. All employees should have certificates kept on record if they have been trained to use a specific piece of equipment.

Records of Statutory Examination

Many pieces of equipment need to be periodically examined by competent persons; All reports must be kept on file and available for inspection at any time. Records of all routine maintenance and examinations should also be kept.

Essential Notifications

There are certain matters that have to be reported to the inspector such as opening a new factory, reportable accidents, reportable dangerous occurences and certain work with asbestos. Further information on occurences or accidents that are reportable can be obtained from a booklet entitled

Reporting Injury or a Dangerous Occurence

Competence

Unless employers are themselves competent to carry out health and safety obligations they must have access to people who are competent according to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations1992. Employers can appoint theior employees or external specialists to help them fulfil their duties but they must take action. Employers must also ensure that those appointed are in fact competent to carry out htose specific tasks, are given all information and support they need and are given enough time to fulfil their functions. A competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge of the particular field to be able to assist the employer in the discharge of his/her health and safety duties.

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