Health and Safety Regulations

Health and Safety (First aid) Regulations 1981

These regulations state that there needs to be a qualified first-aid person and suitable equipment depending on the number of employees.

This makes it law for all organisations, regardless of size of ownership, to have appropriate facilities, equipment and staff to provide immediate medical attention to those who receive harm or injury within the workplace.

These regulations require employers to:

• ensure that an ‘appointed’ and trained individual is available to take charge of first aid. It is recommended that there should be one first aider for every 50-100 people.

• ensure that a suitably stocked first aid box is available

• ensure that records are kept of all accidents

• inform all employees about first aid procedures and protocol

Workplace (display screen equipment) regulations 1992

This piece of legislation was devised to take account of the increased usage of ICT within the workplace. It has had several revisions in order to keep it up to date.

There are significant risks or hazards which can occur in workplaces that use visual display units. These include eye strain, headaches, back strain, fatigue and repetitive stain injury.

This act stipulates that employers must:

• examine workstations and ensure that they are suitable for the work to be carried out

• ensure that workstations meet minimum requirements: the VDU can be adjusted with brightness and contrast, adjustable chairs are provided, footrests are provided if requested, keyboards can be adjusted and are separate from the screen

• ensure that employees are given breaks or can change activity away from the VDU

• provide eye tests if the employee requests this and provide glasses or contact lenses if special ones are needed for VDU work

• consult with all staff members who use VDUs about the nature and arrangements of their work

• examine the workstations to assess and reduce the potential risks

• provide safety equipment upon request

• offer extensive and up-to-date training on performing duties to mitigate risks or hazards

• break up repetitive tasks or provide regular comfort breaks to avoid muscular or stress-related conditions

• continually review and assess the situation in light of any changes

Workplace (health, safety and welfare) Regulations 1992

This piece of legislation explains the minimum acceptable standards of accommodation required of all types of workplaces across the UK.

The provision of a comfortable and hygienic working environment is essential to ensure staff are safe, motivated and happy within the workplace.

These regulations ensure that the welfare and wellbeing of all staff is protected by enforcing minimum standards across all sectors of industry, regardless of risk level.

• working environment: lighting, as far as practical, should be natural. Temperature should be reasonable.

• workplace safety: rooms must be of a specified dimension depending on the number of people using the room.

• workplace facilities: provision of hot and cold running water as well as methods of drying after use

• maintenance and upkeep: equipment and machinery should be regularly maintained. The workplace should be cleaned and fit for purpose.

Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999

These regulations state that there must be a means of alerting people to a fire, suitable means to escape a building, fire-fighting equipment provided and staff trained in areas of fire safety.

This piece of legislation is paired with the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. Under this law, organisations need to assess their level of risk against particular criteria, categorised as either high risk or low risk.

The risk assessment will determine:

• the potential risks currently within the organisation

• the procedures for reducing the likelihood and severity of these risks

• the type of fire alert and suppressions systems required within the organisation

The assessment will take into consideration the size of the building, the nature of the work being completed and the number of staff within the building.