Safe procedures and working practises

What are employers’ responsibilities?

They are responsible for the health and safety of their employees.

They are also responsible for the health and safety of any visitors to their premises, such as customers, suppliers and the general public.

When was the Health and Safety at Work Act created?

1974

What is the primary piece of legislation that covers work-related health and safety in the UK?

The Health and Safety at Work Act.

Who is mainly responsible for enforcing health and safety at work?

The Health and Safety Executive.

How do employers enforce health and safety?

By making sure that workers and others are protected from anything that may cause harm.

Effectively, they control any risk of injury or to health that could arise in the workplace.

What information must employers provide?

Information about the risks in the workplace and how you are protected.

They must also instruct and train you on how to deal with the risks.

What is a risk assessment?

A process of identifying hazards in the workplace and evaluating the associated risks to prevent injury and ill-health.

What are the two measures on a risk assessment?

The likelihood of harm occurring

The potential severity of harm

What must an employer appoint for health and safety?

A ‘competent person’ with health and safety responsibilities.

This is usually an owner, or a health and safety trained employee in larger companies.

What is a ‘duty of care’?

An employer’s legal responsibility to prevent their employees from harm, and ‘to look after, as far as possible, their health, safety and welfare while they are at work.’

What must a business employing 5 or more people have in terms of risk assessments?

An official record of what the assessment finds

Plans put in place to deal with risks

A formal health and safety policy, including arrangements to protect health and safety

What is the format of a risk assessment?

2 scales: likelihood and level of harm.

Define hazard.

A situation or object with the potential to cause harm.

How many employees does the plastics industry have in the UK?

220,000 across 6,000 businesses.

What are the most common causes of accidents in the plastic industry?

Inadequate safeguarding fitted

Safeguarding that has fallen into disrepair

Safeguarding that has been overridden

Safeguarding that has been damaged or removed

Unsafe systems of work, especially when:

• gaining access to the cutting chamber

• feeding materials

What are the most common causes of accidents in the ceramics industry?

Handling, lifting or carrying products

Slipping, tripping or falling on the same level

Being hit by moving, flying or falling objects

What are the most common causes of occupational ill health in the ceramics industry?

Musculoskeletal disorders

Dermatitis + skin diseases

Asthma + respiratory disease

Local Exhaust Ventilation systems (LEV)

What are the most common causes of accidents in the engineering industry?