Health and Safety

The Health and Safety at work act 1974 (HASWA). Is statute law and is there to protect everyone in the workplace and members of the public. It is designed to ensure employers and employees work in a safe manner, have the correct equipment to do their work and do not carry out any works that can cause harm to themselves and/or members of the public. The main statements for HASWA are.

• It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

• It shall be the duty of every employee while at work—
• (a) to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work and.
• (b) as regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to co-operate with him so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with.

These statements basically mean that it is for an employer to make every provision for anyone working for the company is given the correct tools to complete their job. That every task has been "Risk Assessed" and a "method statement" is in place for each employee to follow so that the task is completed in a safe manner.

The second part is for the employee to make sure whilst they are at work that they conduct themselves in a safe manner so as not to put themselves or others at risk. Also that they are to follow the safe working procedures given by the employer.

HASWA also relates to self employed people as well (such as Photographers) for this part the statements above are still true if the self employed person has employed someone such as an assistant as this means you now have an employer and employee.

The next main part of HASWA which will really apply to a self employed person is.

• It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.

This means that any actions or tasks undertaken by the Self employed person must not cause a health and safety risk to anyone else (ie members of public).

To see the full Health and Safety at work act 1974 click here.