RB Health and Safety – What are the main UK health and safety guidelines?

What are the main UK health and safety guidelines?

In City of London, there are several health and safety regulations which businesses must abide by. These regulations and guidelines are designed to ensure that employers are protected against potential accidents in the workplace. What follows is a list of health and safety regulations that every UK business owner should be aware of:

The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations (1999)

Known colloquially as “management regs”, this legislation first came into effect in 1993. Employee duties under this legislation include:
• Making risk assessments regarding the health and safety of the workforce and acting upon the risks identified in order to reduce them (regulation 3).
• Appointing a competent person to oversee health and safety in the workplace.
• Providing staff with information and training on occupational safety.
• Developing a written health and safety policy.

Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations (1992)

The main purpose of this legislation requires employers to provide:
• Adequate heating, lighting, ventilation and a clean workspace.
• Staff facilities including refreshment, toilet and washing facilities.
• Safe passageways free from slip/trip hazards.

Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (1992)

This legislation covers workers who habitually use computers as part of their working day (or those who in other words use display screen equipment) for an hour or more on a continuous basis. Under this legislation, employers must:
• Perform a risk assessment of workstation use and reduce any identifiable risks.
• Ensure users of display screen equipment take adequate breaks.
• Provide regular eye tests.
• Provide health and safety information.
• Provide adjustable ergonomic furniture (desks and chairs, for example).
• Demonstrate adequate procedures are in place to reduce risks associated with display screen equipment work, such as RSI (repetitive strain injury).

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations (2022)

Under this legislation, employers are required to:
• Ensure suitable PPE (personal protective equipment) is provided free of charge whenever there are risks to health and safety which cannot be controlled adequately in other ways. Supplied PPE must also be suitable for the risk involved.
• Provide training, information and instruction on the use of said PPE.

Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992)

This legislation requires employers to:
• Avoid the need for employees (as is reasonably practical) to undertake manual handling activities which present a risk of injury.
• Make risk assessments of manual handling tasks to reduce potential injury. Assessments should consider the load, the task and the personal characteristics of the individual (for example, employee strength and height).
• Provide employees with information pertaining to the weight of each individual load.

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998)

This legislation requires employers to:
• Ensure work equipment is safe and suitable for the purposes provided.
• Maintain equipment, regardless of its age.
• Provide training, information and instruction on how to correctly use such equipment.
• Protect employees from dangerous machinery and/or parts.

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (2013)

Under this legislation, employers are required by law to report a range of work-related injuries, incidents and diseases to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). Alternatively, they may report to the nearest local authority environmental health department. These regulations require employers to keep records in an accident book. Noted incidents should include the date/time of the incident, details of the employee(s) affected, the location of the event and a brief outline of what happened. In addition to this, the following injuries/ill health must be reported:

• The death of any person.
• Specific injuries including amputations, eye injuries, electric shock, fractures and/or acute illness requiring attendance at hospital (or other immediate medical attention).
• Injuries involving the relieving of duties of an employee for more than seven days due to a workplace accident.
• Reportable occupational diseases include repetitive strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, occupational dermatitis or hand-arm vibration syndrome caused by the regular use of percussive/vibrating tools.

Working Time Regulations (1998)

This legislation implements two EU directives regarding working time and employment. It covers the right to annual leave and rest breaks and limits the length of the working week. Under such legislation, protections include:

• A 48-hour maximum working week.
• Minimum daily rest period of at least 11 hours, unless shift-working arrangements have been made which comply with the legislation.
• 20 minutes uninterrupted daily rest after six hours’ work, to be taken during working time.

Learn more about health and safety regulations

If you would like to know more about health and safety regulations and your obligations as an employer, why not contact RB Health & Safety Solutions today? Our role is to provide common-sense health and safety advice and high-quality training to companies and individuals. Whether you require employee training or consultancy on health and safety as an employer, you can rest assured we will provide up-to-date, relevant information pertaining to your industry in City of London.