PROPOSALS requiring employers to make available to their employees more
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information on health, safety and welfare at work are contained in a consultative document issued by the Health and Safety Commission.
The regulations proposed in the document would be made under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and would extend the right to access to information on health and safety to the eight million people covered for the first time by safety legislation through this Act.
The proposals would also require employers to make available not only statutory information, but also relevant advisory material.
The heavy reliance on placard copies of abstracts fixed to a wall at the entrance of industrial premises is no longer considered sufficient. Under the proposed regulations employers will be required to : • Display a notice specifying arrangements made to provide information concerning the _health and safety of employees; • Give details of responsibility of inspection of the workplace and details of the local Employment Medical Advisory Service; • Inform employees of any risks relevant to the undertaking being carried on and any precautions necessary to secure health and safety.
Under the proposed regulations, employers must make available for their employees to consult, any statutes, regulations, orders, codes of prac tice or guidance relevant to health and safety at work issued by, or an behalf of, the Health and Safety Commission, and Executive, and other official agencies. Specialist guidance by the Commission is expected to cover the differing needs of particular jobs.
The Commission has asked for comments on the proposals. They should be sent to Mr A. Baugh, Health and Safety Executive, Baynards House, 1 Chepstow Place, Westlxnirne Grove, London W2 4TF, by December 15, 1975.
The need for employers to produce a written safety policy )y November 1, 1975 has been modified by a recently published Statutory Instrument (1975 No 1584) which exempts employers with fewer than five employees from having to produce a written safety policy.