Workplace Legislation Flashcards
Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981
Organisations should:
Have a suitably stocked first-aid kit
Appoint a person to take charge of first-aid arrangements
Inform employees about first-aid arrangements
Provide opportunities for first-aid training for employees
Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992
Ventilation
- Adequate ventilation should be ensured at all times
Temperature
- Minimum temperatures will be set to ensure environments are suitable for work activity
Lighting
- Adequate lighting should be provided, & where required, emergency lighting
Cleanliness
- Workplaces should be clean & free from dust, with waste materials removed regularly
Drinking Water
- Supply of drinking water is required at all times
Washing & Toilet Facilities
- Must be made available, with hot & cold running water
Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
Organisations should:
Analyse workstations to assess & reduce risks
Regularly check & maintain equipment to ensure it’s safe to use with regards to wiring
Provide safety equipment- anti-glare screens, wrist rests to prevent injury to employees
Provide information & training to employees in the use of IT equipment & procedures - updating it where required
Offer eye tests on request for employees who use IT regularly
Encourage regular breaks to avoid stress related problems
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1999
Organisations should:
Carry out fire risk assessment
Have a fire evacuation strategy
Ensure that all fire escape routes & exits are free from obstruction
Have fire-fighting equipment (extinguishers)
Have fire detection & warning systems included
Regularly test fire alarms
Methods to Communicate Changes to Legislation - E-mail
Employees have something in writing to refer back to
Saves time as staff can be contacted all at once
Files can be attached to provide additional details
Absent staff will be kept in the loop for when they return
Can be marked as urgent to gain attention of staff
No guarantee staff will check e-mails
Methods to Communicate Changes to Legislation - Intranet
Company policy & procedure documentation could be issued by this method
Organisations can set up an area dedicated to workplace legislation
All employees will be accessing the most current policies
Can be referred to at any time
Saves costs of giving everyone a paper copy
Methods to Communicate Changes to Legislation - Posters
Can be retained for future use
Can provide information in an eye-catching manner
Constantly on display for reference
May be ignored
Need updated regularly
Methods to Communicate Changes to Legislation - Meetings
Could be used to explain information on company policies
Allows instant feedback on information
Questions can be asked for clarification
Time consuming
Methods to Communicate Changes to Legislation - Virtual Learning
Can access training materials when it suits them
Can be interactive to aid understanding
Staff may be required to take a quiz to check understanding
Management can check staff have completed training
Consequences of Breaching Legislation - Organisation
May attract unwanted attention
Company rep may be damaged resulting in a loss of new customers
May prove difficult to attract high quality candidates in recruitment process
May be reported to Information Commissioner
Business may be closed down
Consequences of Breaching Legislation - Employee
Employee may receive a formal, verbal & then written warning which will be held on record
Employee may be dismissed & have their contract terminated for misconduct
A poor reference could make it difficult to get a new job
Lack of income may result in financial hardship
Employer & Employee Responsibilities
Employers
- Legal responsibility to provide a safe environment
Employees
- Must use equipment correctly
Employees
- Responsible to report any hazards to employer
Employers
- Must take action on the hazard as soon as possible
Employers
- Responsible to risk-assess dangerous tasks
Employees
- Responsible to follow procedures put in place
Both
- Responsible to work together to ensure health and safety legislation is complied
GDPR
Data must be processed lawfully
Should only be collected for legitimate purposes
Personal data should be limited to what’s necessary
Should be accurate and up-to-date
Should only be stored as long as necessary
Should be stored ensuring security
Computer Misuse Act 1990
Offences under this legislation:
Accessing computer material without permission
With intent to commit further offence
Altering computer data without permission
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Everyone has a right to access official info
Requester of info doesn’t need to give reason for wanting info
All requests are to be treated equally
Only info that can be released to the world qualifies for disclosure
