Risk assessments
Under the terms of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999, all employers and self-employed people have to assess the risks that their business presents to workers and anybody else.
Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings of their risk assessment.
Health and safety policy statements
If you employ five or more people, you must have a written health and safety policy.
This sets out how you manage health and safety in your organisation. It shows who does what as well as when and how. You should use it as a key to achieving good standards and reducing accidents and work-related ill health.
Health and safety posters
Employers are required by law to make sure employees are notified of their general health and safety requirements and duties. The poster must also provide information on the local addresses of the relevant enforcing authority and the Health and Safety Executive Employment Medical Advisory Service (EMAS HSE). You can buy such a poster from the Health and Safety Executive.
The enforcing authority will be either the Health and Safety Executive or the council. If it is us, the relevant address you need is:
South Gloucestershire Council, Health, Safety and Licensing Team, The Council Offices, Castle Street, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 1HF Tel. 01454 863490/92
And the Employment Medical Advisory Service address is:
EMAS HSE, Government Buildings, Ty Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff, CF14 5SH Tel: 029 2026 3000
First aid facilities
Under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations of 1981, employers must make provision for first aid in their workplaces. This depends on equipment, facilities and personnel, but will include at least:
- A suitably stocked first aid box
- An appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements
- Provision at all times when people are working
Temperatures
The temperature in workrooms must be at least 16°C, unless much of the work involves severe physical effort. In that case, the temperature should be at least 13°C.
There is no set maximum temperature. The Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations of 1992 say that "during working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable".
Employees’ responsibilities
- You must tell someone if you see something that looks unsafe
- You must take care of yourself and anyone affected by your work
- If you're not sure how to do something safely, don't do it at all until you have been shown
- You must use equipment in the proper manner
- You must do what your employer tells you to do to protect your health and safety at work, including the use of safety equipment and safety clothing etc.
Information for employees
Your employer must tell you:
- If there are any dangerous aspects to your job
- How to do your job safely
- What measures are in place to protect your health and safety
- How to get first aid treatment
- What to do in an emergency
Resting
Employers are obliged to provide suitable and sufficient facilities in readily accessible places, where employees can rest and eat meals.