Element 1 - Why Should We Manage Workplace Health And Safety Flashcards
To go through important notes for the 1st element of NEBOSH
Definitions of Health, Safety and Welfare
Health - absence of disease and ill-health
Safety - absence of risk to personal injury
Welfare - access to basic facilities such as toilets, first aid
The 3 main reasons for managing workplace health and safety
Moral, financial and legal
Moral reasons for managing health and safety
- Employers cover premises, equipment and working practices to produce services/products
- Right thing to do
- Need to go to work and come back in same condition
- Moral argument drives legislation
Financial reasons for.managing health and safety
- Accident and property damage cost employers money
- There are direct/indirect costs associated with this, which can take an employer out of business
- Prevention of this is financial argument AKA business case
Direct cost definition
Measurable costs arising directly from the accident
Indirect cost definition
Costs which arise indirectly as a consequence of the accident
Direct cost examples
Repairs/replacement of equipment, sick pay for employee, 1st aid treatment
Indirect cost examples
Reduction in staff morale, difficulties in recruiting/retaining staff, damage to public image and reputation
Under what act is it compulsory to have Employers Liability Insurance and what is the minimum amount a business must be insured for?
Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 and a minimum of £5million
What type of things can insurance cover?
Damage to plant, buildings and equipment
Compensation to workers
Medical costs
Legal costs in a civil suite
On average how many times more are uninsured costs compared to insured costs
8-36x more
What type of things can insurance not cover
Compensation in a criminal suite Production delays Accident investigation time Sick pay for workers Loss of reputation
While insurance can cover some things, companies will still need to pay some of the money towards it. True or False?
True, while insurance will cover payment of certain things, most insurance policies have a limit AND excesses
Civil law definition
Compensation for workers who have been injured through no fault of their own
Criminal law definition
Punishment of companies/individuals who have broken statute health and safety law
Civil lawsuit conditions
Action brought by individual Intention is compensation Legal action must start within 3 years of accident Insurance can pay compensation Common law is used
Criminal lawsuit conditions
Action brought by the state Intention is punishment No time limit Insurance cannot pay fine Statute law used
Statute law definition
Statute law is made my Parliament through Acts/Regulations
Common law definition
Common law is made my judges through precedent set by decision making
Does an Act have full legal status? Give an example of an Act
Yes, Health and safety at work act 1974
Does a Regulation have full legal status? Give an example of a Regulation
Yes, Management of health and safety at work regulations 1999
What can a Regulation also be known as?
Delegated legislation
Accepted Code of Practice (ACoP), does this have full legal status? Give an example of where you would find an ACoP
Special legal status, if not followed must prove something similar was done to get to same standard. One accompanies the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
Guidance, does this have full legal status? Give an example of where you would find a guidance
No it does not, they just set out best practice. There is one found with the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
What does common law rely on?
Judicial precedent - following precedent set in higher courts
Employers common law duties are based on which case?
Wilson and Clyde Co Vs English 1938
What does Wilson and Clyde Co Vs English 1938 stipulate?
Appropriate training must be given Safe place to work Safe equipment to use Safe working systems Safe workers
Criminal law is enforced by which authority?
HSE and HSENI
What type of workplaces do the HSE and HSENI enforce the law?
Medium and high risk workplaces
What type of safety would the HSE/HSENI generally not enforce?
Fire safety
Powers of inspectors under Health and safety at work act 1974
Enter premises Bring police if at risk of obstruction Bring technical assistance and help Complete examinations and investigations Take photos and measurements Take samples of substances Dismantle equipment Take anything for evidence Inspect documents Any other power to fulfill duty Seize and render harmless anything that has imminent danger
What are the 2 types of notices given by the HSE?
Improvement notices and Prohibition notices
Describe the Improvement notice
Only issued if no risk of personal injury
Activity can continue but improvements must be made and the notice will be on for a measured time period
Can appeal within 21 days
Describe the Prohibition notice
Issued if there is imminent risk of danger
Activity must stop immediately until issue is remedied
Notice has no timescale
Can appeal within 21 days
Where are appeals made?
Employment tribunals
Explain what happens to notices on appeal
Improvement notices are suspended
Prohibition notices are upheld
What are the options on appeal?
Can cancel
Can uphold
Can uphold with a timescale
Penalties are set under which Act?
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 more specifically Health and Safety Offences Act 2008
What 2 courts can give penalties or prosecute?
Magistrates Court and Crown Court
What are the penalties under Magistrates Court?
Unlimited fine and/or 6 months in jail
What are the penalties under Crown Court?
Unlimited fine and/or 2 years in jail
What is a Fee for Intervention?
A FFI allows HSE to recover costs for carrying out its regulatory duty from those in material breach of Health and Safety Law.
What law is the Fee for Intervention based on?
Health and Safety and Nuclear (Fees) Regulations 2016
What has HSE have to issue in order to be able to claim a Fee for Intervention?
Notification of contravention
An improvement/prohibition law
Prosecution
What is the current rate for Fee of Intervention?
£154 per hour
What information must the notification of contravention include?
The law the inspector’s opinion relates to
Reason for their opinion
Notification a fee is due to the HSE
What is a simple caution and who uses them?
Used by Local Authorities, they are used in instances a full court case would lead to a conviction, the offender admits guilt to avoid the court case
Which office in Scotland decides when a simple caution is given?
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
What are the 3 types of offences that can be given?
Summary Offences
Indictable Offences
Triable Either Way Offences
Describe a Summary Offence
Minor offences, always decided in Magistrates Court
Describe a Indictable Offence
More serious offence, decided by judge and jury in Crown Court
Describe a triable either way offence
May either be tried as summary offences in Magistrates or heard by judge and jury in Crown Court.