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Health and safety
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1974/cukpga_19740037_en_1)
(the Act) applies to everyone at work, whether self-employed, an
employer or an employee. Employers must take reasonable steps to
protect the health, safety and welfare of the people working for
them. They must also think about the health and safety of anyone
that might be affected by their activities or lack of action,
including customers, visitors and contractors. No business is too
large or too small to escape these duties.
The Act and the wide range of regulations made under it are
enforced by local authorities or the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE), according to the main activity of each individual work
premises.
Local authorities have responsibility for the enforcement of
health and safety legislation in 1.2million business premises: in
offices, shops, retail and wholesale distribution outlets, hotels,
restaurants, residential care homes and throughout the leisure
industry.
The HSE enforces the legislation in industry: factories, farms
and building sites.
Health and safety laws
Health and safety prevents people from being harmed by taking
the right precautions and providing a safe working environment.
Because health and safety at work is so important, there are rules
which require all of us not to put ourselves or others in danger.
The law is also there to protect the public from workplace dangers.
These laws apply to all firms, however small, to employees and to
the self-employed.
The role of health and safety inspectors
Inspectors visit workplaces to check that people are sticking to
the rules and to help them understand what is required to conform
with the law. They enforce only when something is seriously
wrong.
Register your business
Offices, shops and railway premises must register with their
enforcing authority using an OSR1 form which is available from the
the council's Food and Safety Team. There is no legal requirement
for other types of premises to do so. It is helpful if premises
notify the team so that it can keep its records up to date and
provide advice where needed. To register your business, please
contact Medway Council or the HSE.
Health and safety enforcement
Health and safety enforcement is split between the council and
the HSE. The responsibilities of the Food and Safety Team at Medway
Council include:
- offices;
- shops;
- consumer services, such as hotels and catering, warehouses,
tyre and exhaust fitters, undertakers, therapeutic and beauty
services and animal care;
- privately-owned leisure and entertainment facilities and
- religious activities.
The team is not responsible for domestic premises or premises
owned by the council.
Health and safety at other types of premises are enforced by the
HSE (phone 01342 334200). Matters relating to
construction activities are enforced by its construction division
(phone 01233 653900).
Employer's liability compulsory insurance
If you employ anyone, you must display your employer's liability
compulsory insurance certificate.
Health and safety law posters
If you employ anyone, you should display the health and safety
law poster. To order a poster, ring HSE Books on 01787
881165 quoting ISBN 0 7176 1380 1.
HSE infoLine
For further advice, phone the HSE infoLine on 0845
3450055 or visit the HSE website (www.hse.gov.uk).
Reporting an incident
Incidents should be reported to the Health and Safety Executive
(www.hse.gov.uk/riddor).
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