1.3 Workplace Regulations

Question 1

Health and safety
Potential hazards in the work place

Answer 1

Slips and trips
Falling from a height
Being struck by a falling or moving object
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) eye strain and backache

Question 2

Employer responsibilities
The Health and Saftey at Work Act

Answer 2

-Consider employee welfare with regard to the working environment by conducting risk assessments
- Ensure staff are trained in health and safety
-Keep the health and safety policy up to date
- Provide protective clothing when necessary:
Dentists wear gloves and masks
Firemen wear protective suits
Builders wear hard hats

Question 3

Employer responsibilities
The Health & Safety (First-Aid) Regulations

Answer 3

-Ensure there is a first aid equipment on site
-Keep a record of accidents in an accident report form
-Provide access to a qualified and up-to-date trained first aider

Question 4

Employer responsibilities
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations

Answer 4

-Complete risk assessments relating to workstations and take action to minimise risks
-Provide suitable equipment such as adjustable monitors, seating, keyboards, and work station design
-Make use of job rotations and give regular breaks
-Arrange and pay for eye tests

Question 5

Employer responsibilities
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) regulations

Answer 5

The employer is responsible for ensuring that these issues are prevented by providing an ideal ICT workstation.

Eye fatigue and headaches
Body aches and pains
Stress
RSI- Repetitive Strain injury
Work-related upper limb disorder
Occupational overuse syndrome
Musculoskeletal disorder

Question 6

Ergonomic equipment

Answer 6

Ergonomic keyboard
Wrist rests
Adjustable monitor
Adjustable chair
Anti-glare screen

Question 7

Employer responsibilities
The Fire (Scotland) Act

Answer 7

-Ensure there are effective alarms and evacuation routes
-provide staff training
-Provide equipment such as fire extinguishers and maintain these

Question 8

Employee responsibilities

Answer 8

-Cooperate with health and safety policy
-Report accidents or faults
-look after colleagues, customers,visitors health and safety by acting responsibly

Question 9

Communicating legislation
It is the employers responsibility to provide health and safety information to employees

Answer 9

By law if the organisation has more than 5staff there must be a written health and safety policy.
- Induction and on-going training
-Email and documents on the intranet
-Use of notices and posters at work
-Demonstrations and advice sessions
-organisational handbook
-Formal written updated policy
-Intranet, emails and newsletters
-Health and safety representative

Question 10

Breaching health and safety
Employer

Answer 10

The 2 bodies responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation are the national Health and Safety executive (HSE) and local government Environmental Health Department
They can provide advice, issue warnings and close operations without notice
Penalties can include fines, revoking license or permission and other sanctions
Employees can appeal their case to an industrial tribunal

Question 11

Breaching health and safety
Employee

Answer 11

-Verbal warning
-Written warning
-Suspension (with or without pay)
-Dismissal (gross misconduct)
-Cival/criminal prosecution eg fine or prison
-Demotion