Health And Safety At Work Act 1974 Flashcards
1
Q
what is the aim of the health and safety at work act?
A
- to protect employees and the public from activities being undertaken at work
- provides legal framework for promoting and encouraging high standards of health and safety
2
Q
who is required to comply with the health and safety at work act?
A
- employees
- employers
- trainees
- self employed
- manufactures
- suppliers
- designers
- importers of work equipment
3
Q
what are the employees responsibilities under the health and safety at work act?
A
- must take care of their own H&S and that of others
- must cooperate with their employers
- must not interfere with anything provided in the interest of H&S
4
Q
what are the employers responsibilities under the health and safety act?
A
- must provide and maintain safety of equipment
- must ensure materials used are properly stored, handled and transported
- must ensure staff are appropriately trained in using any equipment
- must provide a written safety policy/ risk assessment
- cannot charge their staff for measures they’re required to provide i.e. PPE
5
Q
who enforces the health and safety at work act?
A
the local authority environmental health officer
6
Q
what powers does a local authority environmental health officer have?
A
- right to entry at reasonable times without appointment
- right to investigate and examine
- right to dismantle equipment and take substances or equipment
- right to see documents and take copies
- right to seek assistances from police or colleagues
- right to ask questions under caution
- right to seize articles or substances in cases of imminent danger
7
Q
what legal notices can local authority environmental health officers give out?
A
- legal notices are written documents that requires a person to do or stop doing something
- an improvement notice will explain what’s wrong and how to fix it in a certain time frame
- a prohibition notice will prohibit the use of equipment/ unsafe practices immediately
8
Q
what prosecutions can be faced under the health and safety at work act?
A
- both employers and employees can face prosecutions
- in magistrates court, a maximum of a £5000 fine can be issued
- in crown court, an unlimited fine and a jail sentence can be issued
