Health & Safety Responsibilities
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In terms of employees responsibilities for health and safety what they need to do is take a reasonable amount of care over their own health and safety and that of others who could be affected by the work that they’re doing.
They need to comply with their employer over matters relating to health and safety and this would include using any equipment in accordance with the training that they’ve been provided with.
They also need to report to their employer or a supervisor or a union rep any concerns that they have in relation to health and safety.
In terms of an employer’s responsibilities in relation to health and safety they need to decide what in the workplace could cause harm to people and figure out what precautions need to be put in place to manage that risk, ie a risk assessment.
What they also need to do is bring the findings of that risk assessment to the attention of the workforce in a way that they can understand. So they need to explain how the risks are going to be controlled and who’s going to be responsible for making that happen.
They need to consult with the workforce over matters relating to health and safety.
They need to provide free of charge any equipment that’s needed in order for people to carry out their work safely and they also need to provide again free of charge any training that’s required in order for people to be able to carry out their work safely.
They need to provide things like an adequate number of toilets, adequate washing facilities and things like an adequate degree of first-aid provision.
They need to report certain injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences under a piece of legislation known as RIDDOR, which is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations.
They need to have insurance in place usually referred to as employer’s liability insurance that covers people in the event of any injury or illness that they suffer as a result of their work.
Employers need to cooperate and coordinate in order to ensure health and safety. The people that they need to cooperate and coordinate with could be for example other employers or contractors.
Who is responsible for safety and health in the workplace?
All workers are entitled to work in environments where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Under health and safety law, the primary responsibility for this is down to employers.
Workers have a duty to take care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions at work. Workers must cooperate with employers and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements.
As a worker, if you have specific queries or concerns relating to health and safety in your workplace, talk to your employer, manager/supervisor or a health and safety representative.
An Organisations Responsibilities for Safety and Health
What employers must do for you:
- Decide what could harm you in your job and the precautions to stop it. This is part of risk assessment.
- In a way you can understand, explain how risks will be controlled and tell you who is responsible for this.
- Consult and work with you and your health and safety representatives in protecting everyone from harm in the workplace.
- Free of charge, give you the health and safety training you need to do your job.
- Free of charge, provide you with any equipment and protective clothing you need, and ensure it is properly looked after.
- Provide toilets, washing facilities and drinking water.
- Provide adequate first-aid facilities.
- Report major injuries and fatalities at work.
- Have insurance that covers you in case you get hurt at work or ill through work. Display a hard copy or electronic copy of the current insurance certificate where you can easily read it.
- Work with any other employers or contractors sharing the workplace or providing employees (such as agency workers), so that everyone’s health and safety is protected.
Worker Responsibilities for Safety and Health
What you must do:
- Follow the training you have received when using any work items your employer has given you.
- Take reasonable care of your own and other people’s health and safety.
- Co-operate with your employer on health and safety.
- Tell someone (your employer, supervisor, or health and safety representative) if you think the work or inadequate precautions are putting anyone’s health and safety at serious risk.
Employers are ‘vicariously liable’ if their worker(s) harms someone due to their actions (or omissions). This means that employers also have some responsibility for worker actions.
Click the link below for a free leaflet from the HSE that summarises some of the issues covered in this lesson.
Health & Safety Law – What you need to know