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Safety policies for all

28th November 1975
Page 20
Page 20, 28th November 1975 — Safety policies for all
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Les Oldridge, TEng (CE!). MIMI, AMIRTE SECTION 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 sets out the general duties of employers to their employees. Every employer must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety and welfare at work of all his employees, it says. In particular his duty extends to the following, as far as is reasonably practicable : O The provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are safe and without risk to health. (Plant includes any machinery equipment or appliance. I imagine that this definition includes lorries as well as tools and equipment. Although the safety of motor vehicles is covered by such law as the C and U Regs I can see no reason why the new Act should not be used in appropriate circumstances. Nearly all traffic offences can only be committed 'ion a road." The new Act could be used if a badly maintained and dangerous vehicle was used off the road in a private yard or quarry.) E Arrangements for ensuring safety and absence of risk to health in connection with the use, 'handling, storage and transport of articles and substances. (This paragraph obviously concerns , fleet operators, particularly those carrying dangerous substances. Radioactive materials, poisonous waste, organic peroxides, corrosive and flammable substances are already dealt with by separate regulations, but here we have an allembracing law. This section is not concerned exclusively with subStances which are in themselves dangerous. I believe that badly stacked cartons might contravene this section.) O The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of employees. (I think further guidance will be made available. The Training Boards are already active and I can visualise such training being extended to assist employers to comply with the Act.) • As regards any place of work under the employer's control, the maintenance of it in such a con dition that it is safe and without risk to health and the provision and maintenance of means of access and exit that are safe and without such risks.

Environment

The provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees that is without risk to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.

It is now the duty of every employer to prepare a written company safety policy and to make sure that this policy and any revision made to it is made known to the labour force. The Secretary of State can make regulations providing for the appointment or election of safety representatives from among the employees. In prescribed circumstances the employer must establish a safety committee if requested by the safety representative, Designers, manufacturers, installers, erectors, importers or suppliers of articles and subsances for use at work must ensure that risks to health are eliminated ; the articles and substances must be safe when properly used. These persons are required to carry out or arrange for the testing and examination of such articles or substances as far as may be necessary as to ensure that they will be safe when used.

More about this Act next week.

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