By law, employers are responsible for health and safety in their workplaces. However, both self-employed people and employees have significant obligations too.
An employer has a responsibility to safeguard the health, welfare and safety of both their workers and any other individuals who visit the workplace. Employers are required to take all reasonable steps to do this, which includes undertaking risk assessments, providing health and safety training, implementing health and safety procedures, and carrying out legal safety responsibilities.
Below, the personal injury experts at Ramsdens outline how the law delegates responsibilities for employers, and the health and safety procedures they must adhere to.
Evaluate dangers
The first step to adopting a high-level health and safety policy is to understand the risks posed to workers and other individuals. This is reflected in the law that outlines health and safety regulations, delegating the responsibility to employers to evaluate workplace dangers. This entails identifying workplace activities that may result in disease or injury and taking steps to eliminate the hazard, or, if this is not possible, reduce the risk.
Educate staff on safety risks
Employers are required to advise employees on the dangers present at work, how they can be protected from such risks, and how to manage those risks. There must be adequate health and safety training issued to all those on premises that could be exposed to the risks posed.
Safety laws place responsibility on the employer to ensure that all staff are prepared to undertake their duties safely. Should an injury occur to an employee due to the lack of knowledge of the risks and improper training to safely conduct a task, the responsibility would fall on the employer.
Consult the staff on policies
Employers must consult their workforce on any health and safety policies. A safety representative who is either chosen by the workforce or designated by a union will be the responsible party for detailing the policies to the staff to ensure a general understanding across the board.
As more policies are introduced or changed, the responsibility will continue to inform employees about them. There should also be periodical updates, to ensure employees maintain knowledge of the health and safety risks and raise any issues.
Information about health and safety
The Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations (HSIER) requires employers to either clearly show the HSE-approved law poster in each workplace or distribute copies of the approved poster to each employee.
Again, it is the employer who is legally responsible for health and safety at work when it concerns the awareness of risks.
Employees reporting health and safety concerns
Workers can notify HSE if they believe their employer is putting them in danger, is not upholding their legal obligations with regard to health and safety, or if a concern has been brought to their attention but no suitable answer has been received.
It is vital that employees notify their employer of anything that they believe to be a risk to their own health and to those of others. Whether it concerns a lack of, or outdated, health and safety training or policy, employees must take responsibility to signal any risks to the employer, so that these can be rectified.
Make a claim for compensation
If you have had an accident at work that could have been avoided if your employer adhered to their responsibilities of health and safety in your company, you should consult with a personal injury solicitor to make a claim for compensation.
Speak to one of our solicitors today by calling 01484 821 500, or fill out an online contact form and we will return your call at a time convenient for you.