Intro Health & Safety

An introduction
to health and safety
Health and safety in small businesses
What you should know about – where to get more information

It’s your business
but we can help you look after it!
Getting hurt at work or becoming ill through work is not a pleasant
subject to think about. The reality is that over 200 people a year
lose their lives at work in Britain. In addition, around 150 000
non-fatal injuries are reported each year, and an estimated
2 million suffer from ill health caused or made worse by work.
The mistake is to believe that these things happen in highly unusual

or exceptional circumstances that never occur in your workplace. This is not
the case. Some basic thinking and acting beforehand could usually
have prevented these things from happening.
Implementing health and safety measures doesn’t have to be

expensive, time consuming or complicated. In fact, safer and
more efficient working practices can often save money but,
more importantly, they can help to save lives.
This booklet shows you the kind of things which cause the
more common accidents and harm to people’s health. It lets you
see what applies to your work activities, and tells you how you can get
more help and information.
This is especially important if you are in charge of work activities,

eg you are an employer, because you have legal responsibilities.
introduction | 1
Ten questions and

answers for everyone
What is health and What do inspectors Do I need to have
safety all about? actually do? employers’ liability
Preventing people from They visit workplaces to
compulsory
being harmed by work or check that people are
insurance?
becoming ill by taking the sticking to the rules. They It’s the law if you employ
right precautions - and investigate some accidents anyone - and you should
providing a satisfactory and complaints but mainly display the certificate. See
working environment. they help you to understand the free leaflet, Employers’
what you need to do. They Liability Compulsory
Why are there health enforce only when something Insurance Act 1969. A guide
and safety laws? is seriously wrong. for employers HSE40(rev1),
available from HSE Books
Because health and safety at
work is so important, there are
Do I have to contact on 01787 881165 or from
rules which require all of us
an inspector to get www.hsebooks.co.uk.
not to put ourselves or others
information?
in danger. The law is also No. HSE operates a
Do I need to display
there to protect the public confidential telephone
any posters?
from workplace dangers. information service called Yes, the health and safety
Infoline which is open law poster (ISBN 0 7176 2493 5)
Do health and safety Monday-Friday between if you employ anyone.
laws apply to me? 8 am and 6 pm. You can Alternatively you can provide
contact Infoline by your employees with individual
Yes. To all businesses, how-
telephone 0845 345 0055 copies of the same information
ever small; also to the self-
or fax 0845 408 9566, in a leaflet called Health and
employed and to employees.
or e-mail safety law: What you should
hse.infoline@natbrit.com. know (available in packs of
Who enforces health Alternatively you can write to 25 ISBN 0 7176 1702 5).
and safety law? HSE Information Services, The poster and leaflets are
Inspectors from the Health and Caerphilly Business Park, available from HSE Books.
Safety Executive (HSE) or your Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
local authority. For example: Do I have to report
● HSE at factories, farms Do I need to register injuries at work?
and building sites; my business? Yes, and other incidents. For
● local authorities in offices,
It’s likely you will if you employ information on which ones
shops, hotels and catering,
anyone - contact Infoline. and who should report them,
and leisure activities.
see page 20.
It’s your business – so look after it!

2 | introduction
How to use this booklet–

how each section works
List of topics No matter where you work, this booklet
summarises the key common areas of risk
Managing health and safety
at work and tells you how you can find out
Slips, trips and falls more to ensure that work is made safe.
Asbestos On each page, you will see the sections
Hazardous substances
headed like this:
How and where you
Falls from a height
T he main text gives you
a brief introduction to
the subject.
can get more help
Musculoskeletal disorders This section is a selection
of HSE publications which
Does this concern me?
Display screen equipment will give you more detailed
This section gives you some information and guidance
Noise pointers to whether the on the subject, and how to
subject is relevant to your order them.*
Vibration business.
At the bottom of each page
you will find HSE’s Internet
Electricity What law applies?
address, and also HSE’s
This section gives you the Infoline number which you
Work equipment and
main rules which apply in can ring if you need more
machinery
addition to the general duties information.
in the Health and Safety at
Maintenance and building At the back of the book
Work etc Act 1974.
work is a section on health and
safety policy statements and
Workplace transport a section on risk assessments.
Pressure systems
The words ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’ are used throughout
Fire and explosion
this leaflet. Hazard means anything that can
Radiation cause harm (eg chemicals, electricity, working
Stress
from ladders, etc). Risk is the chance, high or
low, that someone will be harmed by the hazard.
First aid and accident
reporting * HSE Books will accept orders for single copies of up to 25 assorted
free publications. You should allow 10 working days for delivery.
managing health and safety | 3
Have you got health and

safety under control?
M anaging health and

safety is little different
from managing any other
Your health and safety policy
clearly sets out how you
manage health and safety in
aspect of your business. You your workplace by defining
need to do a risk assessment who does what; and when
to find out about the risks in and how they do it. On
your workplace, put sensible pages 21-31 of this leaflet is
Does this measures in place to control an example of a health and
concern me? them, and make sure they safety policy statement that
stay controlled. you can fill in and keep at
Did you know all employers your workplace. Remember,
and self-employed people A risk assessment is nothing keep it simple and actually
have to assess risks at work? more than a careful put it into practice.
examination of what, in your
Did you know employers work, could cause harm to
with five or more employees people. Risk assessment
What law applies?
should have a written health should be a practical
and safety policy? ■ Management of Health and
exercise, aimed at getting the Safety at Work Regulations
right controls in place – keep 1999 (risk assessment)
Did you know employers
it simple and put the results
with five or more employees
into practice. Page 32 of this
■ Health and Safety
have to record the significant (Consultation with Employees)
leaflet gives you step-by-step
findings of their risk Regulations 1996
guidance on how to assess
assessment? ■ Safety Representatives
health and safety risks with a
minimum of fuss. and Safety Committees
Did you know employers Regulations 1977
have a duty to involve their
employees or their employees’ How and where you can get more help
safety representatives on
health and safety matters? Five steps to risk assessment Health and safety law poster
INDG163(rev2) Encapsulated
Did you know employers
FREE (available in packs of 10 ISBN 0 7176 2493 5 £7.50
have to provide free health
ISBN 0 7176 6189 X £5.00) Rigid PVC
and safety training or
ISBN 0 7176 1779 3 £12.50
protective equipment for Consulting employees on
employees where it is health and safety: A guide to Risk management website:
needed? the law INDG232 www.hse.gov.uk/risk
FREE (available in packs of 15
ISBN 0 7176 1615 0 £5.00) To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
Essentials of health and safety 01787 881165
at work or use the order form at the
back of this book or go to
ISBN 0 7176 6179 2 £10.95
www.hsebooks.co.uk
HSE Infoline | 0845 345 0055 HSE website | www.hse.gov.uk hsedirect | www.hsedirect.com
4 | slips, trips and falls
What are the chances

of slipping or tripping
at work?
T he most common cause
of injuries at work is the
slip or trip. Resulting falls can
injuries is over £500 million
a year, and insurance only
covers a small part of this.
be serious. They happen in Effective solutions are often
all kinds of businesses, but simple, cheap and lead to
sectors such as food and other benefits.
catering report higher than
Does this average numbers. It’s a
concern me? particularly important subject What law applies?
if members of the public use
Do you have floors which your premises. The estimated ■ Workplace (Health, Safety and
are, or can become, slippery, cost to employers of all these Welfare) Regulations 1992
eg when wet?
Does spillage or
contamination occur and
is it dealt with quickly?
Do people use unlit areas

such as paths or yards in
the dark?
Might temporary work such

as maintenance or alterations
take place? It could introduce
slipping and tripping hazards
such as trailing cables. How and where you can get more help
Do you use floor cleaning Preventing slips and trips at Slips and trips: Guidance for
materials anywhere? Are the work INDG225(rev1) employers on identifying
right methods and materials FREE (available in packs of 15 hazards and controlling risks
being used? ISBN 0 7176 2760 8 £5.00) HSG155
ISBN 0 7176 1145 0 £7.50
Workplace health, safety and
welfare INDG244(rev1) Slips and trips website:
FREE (available in packs of 10 www.hse.gov.uk/slips
ISBN 0 7176 6192 X £5.00)
Slips and trips: Guidance for To order any of these titles,

call HSE Books on
the food processing industry
HSG156 01787 881165
or use the order form at the
ISBN 0 7176 0832 8 £9.75 back of this book or go to
www.hsebooks.co.uk
asbestos | 5
Do you work with,

or come into contact
with, asbestos?
A sbestos is the largest
single cause of work-
related fatal disease and ill
1985 in many forms. It may
also be found in some
vehicle brake pads and
health in Great Britain. Almost clutch linings.
all asbestos-related deaths
and ill health are from
exposures several decades
What law applies?
Does this ago, but if you work with
■ Control of Asbestos at
concern me? asbestos, or come into
Work Regulations 2002
contact with it during repair
Do you know whether there and maintenance work,
■ Asbestos (Licensing)
is asbestos in your premises? you are at risk. You should
Regulations 1983
It is often found in roofs avoid working with asbestos
(as amended)
and exterior walls, boilers, if possible, but if not you
vessels and pipework, must do it safely.
■ Asbestos (Prohibitions)
ceilings, interior walls and
Asbestos can be found in Regulations 1992
panels, flooring materials, air
buildings built from 1950 to (as amended)
handling systems, domestic
appliances, brake/clutch
linings, fire blankets, etc.
How and where you can get more help
Does your work involve
Working with asbestos in Asbestos essentials task
maintenance and repair
buildings INDG289 manual: Task guidance
of premises? You might
FREE (available in packs of 10 sheets for the building
disturb asbestos while
ISBN 0 7176 1697 5 £5.00) maintenance and allied
doing routine work.
trades HSG210
The management of asbestos
ISBN 0 7176 1887 0 £8.50
Do you know what the in non-domestic premises
rules are about removing Approved Code of Introduction to asbestos
asbestos? In most cases, Practice L127 essentials: Comprehensive
you will need to use a ISBN 0 7176 2382 3 £9.50 guidance on working with
contractor licensed by HSE asbestos in the building
Work with asbestos which
to work with asbestos. maintenance and allied
does not normally require a
trades HSG213
licence Approved Code
Would you know how to find ISBN 0 7176 1901 X £12.50
of Practice L27
someone licensed to do this
ISBN 0 7176 2562 1 £9.50
work?
A comprehensive guide To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
Do you know whether there to managing asbestos in
is asbestos in any of the premises HSG227 01787 881165
materials you work with? ISBN 0 7176 2381 5 £12.50 back of this book or go to
www.hsebooks.co.uk
6 | hazardous substances
Do you work with

hazardous substances?
T housands of people are

exposed to all kinds of
hazardous substances at
explosion’ on page 17 and
the ‘safe handling and use of
substances’ section of the
work. These can include Health and Safety Policy
chemicals that people make Statement on page 26.
or work with directly, and
also dust, fume and bacteria
Does this which can be present in the
What law applies?
concern me? workplace. Exposure can ■ Control of Substances
happen by breathing them Hazardous to Health
Do you use chemicals at in, contact with the skin, Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
work (including cleaning splashing them into the (as amended)
materials)? eyes or swallowing them.
If exposure is not prevented ■ Chemicals (Hazard
Do you know suppliers of or properly controlled, it can Information and Packaging
hazardous substances have cause serious illness, including for Supply) Regulations
to provide information to cancer, asthma and dermatitis, 2002 (as amended)
users, including safety data and sometimes even death. ■ Control of Lead at Work
sheets and proper labelling? See also section on ‘Fire and Regulations 2002
Is there dust and fume

present in your workplace?
HSE’s Infoline can help identify publications relevant to you.
Do you have any water
systems which could be COSHH: A brief guide to the Respiratory sensitisers and
colonised by legionella? Regulations INDG136(rev3) COSHH: Breathe freely –
FREE (available in packs of 10 An employers’ leaflet on
Do you work with animals or ISBN 0 7176 2982 1 £5.00) preventing occupational
their products? These may asthma Leaflet INDG95(rev2)
COSHH essentials: Easy
cause skin or respiratory FREE (available in packs of 15
steps to control chemicals.
sensitisation or be infected ISBN 0 7176 0914 6 £5.00)
Control of Substances
with bacteria or viruses.
Hazardous to Health Health risk management – a
Regulations HSG193 practical guide for managers
ISBN 0 7176 2737 3 £30.00. in small and medium sized
A FREE internet version is enterprises HSG137
also available on: www.coshh- ISBN 0 7176 0905 7 £6.50
essentials.org.uk
To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
Preventing dermatitis at work
INDG233 01787 881165
FREE (available in packs of 15 back of this book or go to
ISBN 0 7176 1246 5 £5.00) www.hsebooks.co.uk
falls from a height | 7
Do you perform work

at height and if so is it
done safely?
F alls from height at work
account for around 60
deaths and just under 4000
major injuries each year. One
of the main causes is falls
from ladders. To help prevent
falls from height, make sure
Does this you consider the risks to all
concern me? your workers, the work is
planned, organised and
Do you carry out simple carried out by competent
maintenance or cleaning people and you follow the
tasks that require working hierarchy for managing risks.
where you could hurt Make sure workers are
yourself if you fell properly trained and
supervised, have the right
Can you avoid the need to equipment and know how to
work at height? For example, use it safely.
could the work be done
using long-handled tools or
by bringing it down to
What law applies?
ground level?
■ Work at Height Regulations
2005
Do you have the most
appropriate equipment for ■ Provision and Use of Work
the job? It may often be safer Equipment Regulations
to use a tower scaffold or 1998
mobile elevating work
platform than a ladder.
Is the equipment you have
The Work at Height Safe use of ladders and
well maintained and do your
Regulations 2005: A brief stepladders: An employers’
employees know how to use
guide INDG401 guide INDG402
it safely?
FREE (available in packs of 10 FREE (available in packs of 5
ISBN 0 7176 2976 7 £5.00) ISBN 0 7176 6105 9 £5.00)
Simple guide to the Provision

and Use of Work Equipment To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
Regulations 1998 INDG291
01787 881165
ISBN 0 7176 2429 3 £5.00) back of this book or go to
www.hsebooks.co.uk
8 | musculoskeletal disorders
Do you suffer
from sprains, strains
and pains?
M anual handling is
transporting or
supporting loads by hand
pains, which may initially be
temporary, but if such work
is not properly managed, and
or using bodily force. Many the early symptoms are not
people hurt their back, arms, recognised and treated, can
hands or feet lifting everyday progress to a chronic and
loads, not just when the load disabling disorder. Cumulative
Does this is too heavy. More than a third damage can build up over time
concern me? of all over-three-day injuries causing pain and discomfort in
reported each year to HSE people’s backs, arms, hands
Does your work include and to local authorities are and legs. Most cases can be
strenuous lifting, carrying, the result of manual handling. avoided by providing suitable
pushing, pulling, reaching These can result in those lifting equipment that is regularly
or repetitive handling? injured taking an average of maintained, together with
11 working days off each year. relevant training on both manual
Do you have repetitive finger, handling and using the equip-
‘Upper limbs’ refers to the
hand or arm movements ment safely (see page 13 ‘Work
neck, shoulders, arms, wrists,
which are frequent, forceful equipment and machinery’).
hands and fingers. Upper
or awkward?
limb disorders (sometimes
called repetitive strain injury
What law applies?
Does your work involve
(RSI)) can happen in almost
twisting, squeezing, ■ Manual Handling Operations
any workplace where people
hammering or pounding? Regulations 1992 (as
do repetitive, or forceful
amended)
manual activities in awkward
postures, for prolonged ■ Management of Health and
periods of time. These can Safety at Work Regulations
cause muscular aches and 1999

Aching arms (or RSI) in small Getting to grips with manual
businesses INDG171(rev1) handling: A short guide
FREE (available in packs of 15 INDG143(rev2)
ISBN 0 7176 2600 8 £5.00) FREE (available in packs of 10
ISBN 0 7176 2828 0 £5.00)
Manual handling assessment
charts INDG383
FREE (available in packs of 10 To order any of these titles,
ISBN 0 7176 2741 1 £5.00) call HSE Books on
01787 881165
Upper limb disorders in the or use the order form at the
workplace HSG60 back of this book or go to
ISBN 0 7176 1978 8 £9.50 www.hsebooks.co.uk
Display screen equipment | 9
Do you use computers

or other display screen
equipment?
U sing a computer or other
kinds of display screen
equipment (visual display
Work with a screen does
not cause eye damage,
but many users experience
units) can give rise to back temporary eye strain or
problems, repetitive strain stress. This can lead to
injury, or other musculo- reduced work efficiency or
skeletal disorders. These taking time off work.
Does this health problems may
concern me? become serious if no action
What law applies?
is taken. They can be caused
Is there regular use of by poor design of work-
■ Health and Safety (Display
display screens as a stations (and associated
Screen Equipment)
significant part of the work? equipment such as chairs),
Regulations 1992 (as
insufficient space, lack of
amended)
Does anyone use a training or not taking breaks
keyboard, mouse or other from display screen work.
input device?
Are people complaining of

discomfort, aches and pains?

The law on VDUs. An easy Working with VDUs
guide: Making sure your INDG36(rev2)
office complies with the FREE (available in packs of 10
Health and Safety (Display ISBN 0 7176 2222 3 £5.00)
Screen Equipment)
Regulations 1992 (as To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
amended in 2002) HSG90
ISBN 0 7176 2602 4 £8.50
01787 881165
www.hsebooks.co.uk
10 | noise
Is your workplace
noisy?
H igh levels of noise at

work can cause hearing
damage. A little damage
group, or when the rest of
their family complains they
have the television on too
happens every time it is loud. Deafness can make
noisy, gradually adding up to people feel isolated from their
serious harm. Young people family, friends and colleagues.
can be damaged as easily as
Does this the old. Sufferers often first What law applies?
concern me? start to notice hearing loss
when they cannot keep up ■ Control of Noise at Work
Are there times when the with conversations in a Regulations 2005
workplace is so noisy that
people have to shout to each
other at normal speaking
distance to make themselves
heard? If so, there is likely to
be a danger to hearing.
Are noisy powered tools or

machinery in use for at least
part of the day?
Are there noisy bangs from

hammering, explosive or
impact tools, or guns?
Are there areas where noise
could interfere with warning Controlling noise at work. Protect your hearing or lose it!
and danger signals? The Control of Noise at Work Pocket card INDG363(rev1)
Regulations 2005 L108 FREE (available in packs of 25
ISBN 0 7176 6164 4 £13.95 ISBN 0 7176 6166 0 £5.00)
Noise at Work: Guidance for Noise website:

employers on the Control of www.hse.gov.uk/noise
Noise at Work Regulations
2005 INDG362(rev1)
ISBN 0 7176 6165 2 £5.00)
call HSE Books on
Sound solutions: Techniques
to reduce noise at work 01787 881165
HSG138 back of this book or go to
vibration | 11
Are you exposed

to vibration?
V ibration from work with

powered hand-held tools,
equipment or processes can
from a vehicle or machine
passing through the seat into
the driver’s body through the
damage the hands and arms buttocks – known as whole-
of users causing ‘hand-arm body vibration. Whole-body
vibration syndrome’. This is a vibration can also be
painful, irreversible condition caused by standing on the
Does this which includes ‘vibration platform of a vehicle or
concern me? white finger’ and the effects machine, so vibration
can be impaired blood passes into the operator
Does anyone work with circulation, damage to the through their feet.
hand-held and hand-guided nerves and muscles, and
tools and machines such as loss of ability to grip properly. What law applies?
concrete breakers and
Back pain can be caused by ■ Control of Vibration at Work
vibrating compactor plates
or aggravated by vibration Regulations 2005
and workpieces such as
castings which are held
against powered machinery How and where you can get more help
such as pedestal grinders?
Hand-arm vibration. The Control back-pain risks from
Does anyone doing this work Control of Vibration at Work whole-body vibration: Advice
get tingling or numbness in Regulations 2005. Guidance for employers on the Control
the fingers or hands? on Regulations L140 of Vibration at Work
ISBN 0 7176 6125 3 £13.95 Regulations 2005
Does anyone often drive INDG242(rev1)
Control the risks from hand-
off-road machinery such as FREE (available in packs of 10
arm vibration: Advice for
tractors, dumper trucks or ISBN 0 7176 6119 9 £5.00)
employers on the Control of
excavators or unsuspended Vibration at Work Regulations Drive away bad backs: Advice
vehicles such as fork-lift 2005 INDG175(rev2) for mobile machine operators
trucks? FREE (available in packs of 10 and drivers Pocket card
ISBN 0 7176 6117 2 £5.00) INDG404
Hand-arm vibration: Advice for
ISBN 0 7176 6420 2 £5.00)
employees Pocket card
INDG296(rev1) Vibration website:
FREE (available in packs of 25 www.hse.gov.uk/vibration
ISBN 0 7176 6118 0 £5.00)
Whole-body vibration. The To order any of these titles,

call HSE Books on
Control of Vibration at Work
01787 881165
Regulations 2005. Guidance or use the order form at the
on Regulations L141 back of this book or go to
12 | electricity
How safe is electricity

in your workplace?
E lectricity can kill. Most

deaths are caused by
contact with overhead or
the only ones at risk. Poor
electrical installations and faulty
electrical appliances can lead
underground power cables. to fires which can also result
Even non-fatal shocks can in death or injury to others.
cause severe and permanent
injury. Shocks from faulty
Does this equipment may lead to falls What law applies?
concern me? from ladders, scaffolds or
other work platforms. Those ■ Electricity at Work
Does anyone do electrical using electricity may not be Regulations 1989
work in your business?
Only those with appropriate
technical knowledge and
experience should be
allowed to do this.
Is your electrical equipment

in good working order?
Do you choose equipment

that is suitable for its working
environment, eg waterproof
or dustproof?
Do you dig in the street,

pavement or near buildings?
Knowing the proper
precautions for avoiding How and where you can get more help
underground cables is
essential. Avoidance of danger from Electrical safety and you
overhead electric power lines INDG231
Do you work near or under GS6 FREE (available in packs of 15
overhead powerlines? There ISBN 0 7176 1348 8 £5.00 ISBN 0 7176 1207 4 £5.00)
are essential safety Electricity at work. Safe Electrical safety website:
precautions to follow. working practices HSG85 www.hse.gov.uk/electricity
ISBN 0 7176 2164 2 £7.95
Avoiding danger from under- call HSE Books on
ground services HSG47 01787 881165
ISBN 0 7176 1744 0 £7.50
www.hsebooks.co.uk
work equipment & machinery | 13
Do you know how to

select and use your
work equipment?
W ork equipment covers
an enormous range
spanning process machinery,
Accidents involving work
equipment happen all the
time – many serious, some
machine tools, office fatal. See ‘safe plant and
machines, lifting equipment, equipment’ section of the
hand tools, ladders and Health and Safety Policy
pressure washers. Important Statement on page 25 of
Does this points include: selecting the this leaflet.
concern me? right equipment for the job,
making sure equipment is What law applies?
Do you use ladders or other safe to use and keeping it
equipment for working at safe through regular ■ Provision and Use of Work
heights? For example, it may maintenance, inspection and, Equipment Regulations 1998
often be safer to use an if appropriate, thorough
■ Lifting Operations and Lifting
access tower or mobile examination, training
Equipment Regulations 1998
elevating work platform than employees to use equipment
a ladder. safely and following ■ Supply of Machinery (Safety)
manufacturers’ or suppliers’ Regulations 1992, as
Do you have machinery of instructions. amended 1994
any kind? You need to guard
the parts that could cause
injury; have the right controls,
especially for starting and
Infoline can help identify publications relevant to you.
stopping; clean, or clear
blockages in a safe way; and Simple guide to the Provision Buying new machinery INDG271
carry out preventive checks, and Use of Work Equipment FREE (available in packs of 15
maintenance and inspection. Regulations INDG291 ISBN 0 7176 1559 6 £5.00)
Using work equipment safely
Are hand tools used in your ISBN 0 7176 2429 3 £5.00)
INDG229(rev1)
workplace, eg screwdrivers, Safe use of work equipment. FREE (available in packs of 10
knives, hand saws, meat Provision and Use of Work ISBN 0 7176 2389 0 £5.00)
cleavers, hammers? Equipment Regulations 1998
Safe use of ladders and
L22
Do you have lifting stepladders: An employers’ guide
ISBN 0 7176 1626 6 £8.00
equipment such as pulley INDG402
blocks, cranes, and lift Simple guide to the Lifting FREE (available in packs of 5
trucks? Most lifting Operations and Lifting ISBN 0 7176 6105 9 £5.00)
equipment will require Equipment Regulations 1998 To order any of these titles,
regular thorough examination INDG290 call HSE Books on
by a competent person. FREE (available in packs of 15 01787 881165

ISBN 0 7176 2430 7 £5.00)
www.hsebooks.co.uk
14 | maintenance & building work
What maintenance
and building work
takes place?
I t’s easy to overlook these
What law applies?
activities because they
happen now and again, ■ Construction (Health, Safety
and it’s often a contractor and Welfare) Regulations
or service agency doing 1996 (building work)
the work. Sometimes people ■ Construction (Design and
are in places where no one Management) Regulations
Does this normally goes, eg the roof or 1994
concern me? electrical switchboard. They
■ Lifting Operations and Lifting
may be fault finding, trying
Equipment Regulations 1998
Did you know that if you are to repair something quickly –
the person responsible for often outside the routine. ■ Provision and Use of Work
your business, you are also Not surprisingly there are Equipment Regulations 1998
responsible for contractors, many accidents. Falls from ■ Confined Spaces
service engineers, etc who heights, eg ladders, are the Regulations 1997
do work for you? most common cause of ■ Work at Height Regulations
serious injury. 2005
Does anyone ever have to
work on the roof, at a height How and where you can get more help
or on fragile materials?
Working together: Guidance on Health and safety in
Does anyone have to fault health and safety for contractors construction HSG150
find and repair machinery and suppliers INDG268(rev) ISBN 0 7176 6182 2 £10.95
WEB ONLY
or equipment when it The Work at Height
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg268.pdf
breaks down? Regulations 2005: A brief
A guide to the Construction guide INDG402
Is there a tank, pit, silo or (Health, Safety and Welfare) FREE (available in packs of 10
similar confined space into Regulations 1996 INDG220 ISBN 0 7176 2976 7 £5.00)
which someone might go – FREE (available in packs of 10
and would you know if they ISBN 0 7176 1161 2 £5.00) Working Well Together (WWT)
did? Website: wwt.uk.com
The absolutely essential health WWT Campaign Helpline
and safety toolkit for the smaller Tel: 0845 2727 500.
Have you found out whether construction contractor INDG344
there is any asbestos* in FREE (available in packs of 5
*
Also see page 5 on ‘Asbestos’
your buildings or plant which ISBN 0 7176 2103 0 £5.00)
could be disturbed during
maintenance or alterations? Health and safety in roof work
HSG33 To order any of these titles,
ISBN 0 7176 1425 5 £8.50 call HSE Books on
01787 881165
Managing contractors: A guide or use the order form at the
for employers HSG159 back of this book or go to
workplace transport | 15
What are the risks

from transport
in your workplace?
E very year about 70 people
are killed and about 2500
seriously injured in accidents
vehicles over-turning are the
most common causes.
Vehicles operating in the
involving vehicles at the workplace include cars and
workplace. Being struck or vans, lift trucks, heavy goods
run over by moving vehicles, vehicles, dumpers, specialised
falling from vehicles, or vehicles or plant. Often there
Does this is significantly more danger
concern me? from vehicles in the workplace
than on the public highway
Do you have vehicles in since the operating
operation at your workplace? conditions are different.
If so what kinds of vehicles
are they?
What law applies?
Are pedestrians separated
from vehicle movements as ■ Workplace (Health, Safety
much as possible? and Welfare) Regulations
1992
Are traffic routes suitable for
■ Provision and Use of Work
the vehicles which have to
Equipment Regulations
use them? Are they clearly
1998
marked?
■ Lifting Operations and
Do you know who is allowed Lifting Equipment
to drive or operate the Regulations 1998
vehicles? They should be
trained and competent.
Are loading and unloading

operations carried out safely? Workplace transport safety: Workplace transport site
An employers’ guide inspection checklist:
Do you actively control HSG136 www.hse.gov.uk/workplace
driving behaviour? ISBN 0 7176 6154 7 £11.50 transport/index.htm
Are all vehicles properly Safety in working with lift

maintained? trucks HSG6
ISBN 0 7176 1781 5 £6.50 To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
Workplace transport safety:
01787 881165
An overview INDG199(rev1) or use the order form at the
16 | pressure systems
Do you know
the risks associated
with pressure systems?
P ressure cookers, boilers,
steam heating systems,
gas cylinders and air
under pressure. They can
cause death or injury to
people, and serious damage
compressors are common to property, if the contents are
examples of equipment and released unintentionally. There
systems containing a fluid are about 150 incidents of this
kind every year. They mainly
Does this happen when equipment fails
concern me? through poor design, incorrect
filling or maintenance or
Do you have any pressure when the method of work is
systems or equipment in unsafe, or someone makes
your business that contain an operating mistake.
a fluid under pressure?
Do you know that most What law applies?

pressure systems have to
be designed, installed, ■ Pressure Systems Safety
maintained and periodically Regulations 2000
examined so as to prevent
■ Carriage of Dangerous
danger?
Goods and Use of
Transportable Pressure
Are you aware that as an
Equipment Regulations
employer or self-employed
2004 (as amended 2005)
person, it’s your job to
choose a competent person
to carry out examinations of
the pressure systems?

Pressure systems safety and
you INDG261(rev1)
ISBN 0 7176 1562 6 £5.00)
Safety of Pressure Systems. To order any of these titles,

Pressure Systems Safety call HSE Books on
Regulations 2000. Approved 01787 881165
Code of Practice L122 or use the order form at the
ISBN 0 7176 1767 X £7.50
www.hsebooks.co.uk
fire & explosion | 17
Do you know
how to prevent fire
or explosion?
E ach year many people
suffer burns caused by
the flammable materials they
obvious, eg packaging
materials, dusts from wood,
flour and sugar. For a fire to
work with. The wide variety of start, fuel, air and a source of
flammable substances found ignition are needed. Controlling
in the workplace ranges from these can prevent fires.
the obvious, eg heating fuel,
If you would like information
Does this petrol, paint thinners and
on fire exits, alarms, or
concern me? welding gases to the less
extinguishers, contact your
local fire authority.
Do you keep or use
flammable substances?
What law applies?
Do you use or store gas in
■ Dangerous Substances
cylinders (eg propane)? A
and Explosive Atmospheres
small amount of released gas
Regulations (DSEAR) 2002
can fill a large area with a
potentially explosive mixture. ■ Regulatory Reform (Fire
Safety) Order 2005
Do you work with flammable (comes into force
dusts? They can explode. 1 October 2006 - visit
www.communities.gov.uk
for latest information)
Do you work with plastic
foams or polyester wadding?
Some types will ignite easily, How and where you can get more help
burn fiercely and give off
dense black smoke. Safe use of petrol in garages Safe working with flammable
INDG331 substances INDG227
Do you spray flammable FREE (available in packs of 10 FREE (available in packs of 15
paints? Vapours are heavier ISBN 0 7176 1836 6 £5.00) ISBN 0 7176 1154 X £5.00)
than air and collect at low
Safe use and handling of Dispensing petrol: Assessing
level.
flammable liquids HSG140 and controlling the risk of fire
ISBN 0 7176 0967 7 £8.50 and explosion at sites where
Do you know the dangers of
petrol is stored and
putting flammable liquids on Fire and explosion. How safe
dispensed as a fuel HSG146
fires to make them burn is your workplace? A short
ISBN 0 7176 1048 9 £7.50
more intensely? guide to the Dangerous
Substances and Explosive To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
Do you use oxygen, eg in Atmospheres Regulations
cylinders, for welding? INDG370 01787 881165
18 | radiation
Do you know
where harmful
radiation occurs?
● medical equipment,
V arious kinds of radiation,
both ionising and non-
ionising, may affect us.
eg X-ray sets.
Excess doses of ionising
Non-ionising radiation: radiation can cause burns,
● UV radiation (eg from the sickness and can have other
sun) can damage the skin adverse health effects.
and lead to skin cancer;
Does this ● lasers can cause burns
concern me? and damage the eye.
What law applies?
Do people in your business Ionising radiation: ■ Ionising Radiations
spend a lot of time working ● naturally occurring radon Regulations 1999
outdoors? gas from the ground;
■ Management of Health and
● radiography or thickness
Safety at Work Regulations
Do you have equipment measuring gauges;
1999
which gives off ultra-violet
radiation, eg for curing
plastics or inks?
Controlling the radiation safety Work with ionising radiation:
Do you work with lasers? of display laser installations Ionising Radiations Regulations
INDG224 FREE 1999. Approved Code of
Is your business in an area Practice and Guidance L121
where levels of radon are Keep your top on: Health risks
ISBN 0 7176 1746 7 £20.00
higher than average? from working in the sun
INDG147(rev1) Fitness of equipment used for
Are any radioactive sources FREE (available in packs of 20 medical exposure to ionising
used in your business ISBN 0 7176 1578 2 £5.00) radiation PM77(rev3)
brought in by a specialist WEB ONLY
Sun protection: Advice for
contractor, or do you www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/
employers of outdoor workers
transport them? pm77.pdf
INDG337
FREE (available in packs of 20 Radiation website:
Is X-ray equipment used? ISBN 0 7176 1982 6 £5.00) www.hse.gov.uk/radiation
The regulatory requirements
for medical exposure to
ionising radiation: An
employers overview HSG223
ISBN 0 7176 2134 0 £6.50 To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
Working safely with ionising
01787 881165
radiation: Guidance for or use the order form at the
expectant and breastfeeding back of this book or go to
mothers INDG334 FREE www.hsebooks.co.uk
stress | 19
Are you feeling stressed

by your work?
M any people argue about

the definition and some-
times even the existence of
lack of control over the way
you do your work, work over-
load (or underload), lack of
‘stress’. However, research support from your managers,
has shown that whatever you conflicting or ambiguous
choose to call it, there is a roles, poor relationships with
clear link between poor work colleagues (including
Does this organisation and subsequent bullying), or poor management
concern me? ill health. HSE has chosen to of organisational change.
use the word stress and define
Benefits to tackling stress in
Do you have a high staff it as ‘the adverse reaction
your organisation can include
turnover, low productivity people have to excessive
increased productivity and
or low morale? Have you pressure or other types of
efficiency, lower staff turnover
noticed bullying, changes demand placed on them.’
and sickness absence, and
in behaviour, staff working
Stress at work can be tackled increased morale.
late or increased sickness
in the same way as any other
absence?
risk to health – by identifying
Do your employees seem
the hazards, assessing who What law applies?
is at risk and the level of risk,
happy to come into work?
deciding how to manage the ■ Management of Health and
risk and putting the plans into Safety at Work Regulations
Are you aware that there are
action. Hazards can include: 1999
individual differences in
vulnerability to stress and
that situations outside work
can also affect the ability
Real solutions, real people: A Making the Stress
to cope with excessive
manager’s guide to tackling Management Standards work:
pressure at work?
work-related stress Action How to apply the Standards in
pack your workplace MISC714
ISBN 0 7176 2767 5 £25.00 FREE (available in packs of 15
ISBN 0 7176 6157 1 £5.00)
Tackling stress: The
Management Standards Stress website:
approach INDG406 www.hse.gov.uk/stress
ISBN 0 7176 6140 7 £5.00)
Working together to reduce To order any of these titles,

stress at work: A guide for call HSE Books on
employees MISC686 01787 881165
FREE (available in packs of 15 or use the order form at the
ISBN 0 7176 6122 9 £5.00)
www.hsebooks.co.uk
20 | first aid & accident reporting
What do you do
if there’s an accident
at work?
T his booklet has been all
about prevention. But
sometimes things do go
information to see the big
picture of where injuries, ill
health and accidental losses
wrong. If someone has been are occurring, and to advise
hurt or fallen ill at work it’s on preventive action.
important to take care of them
straight away, and make any Report incidents to:
Does this dangerous conditions safe. Incident Contact Centre (ICC),
concern me? First aid means treating
Caerphilly Business Park,
Caerphilly CF83 3GG
minor injuries at work and
Do you have at least the Tel: 0845 300 9923
giving immediate attention
minimum first-aid provision Fax: 0845 300 9924
to more serious casualties
at your workplace? As an www.riddor.gov.uk
until medical help is available.
employer you must provide e-mail: riddor@natbrit.com.
Through this initial
first-aid equipment, facilities
management of injury or
and personnel appropriate
illness suffered at work, lives
for the circumstances in your
can be saved and minor
What law applies?
workplace. The minimum
injuries prevented from ■ The Health and Safety
would be a suitably stocked
becoming major ones. (First Aid) Regulations 1981
first-aid box and a person
appointed to take charge of Reporting accidents and ill ■ Reporting of Injuries,
first-aid arrangements. health at work is a legal Diseases and Dangerous
requirement. The enforcing Occurrences Regulations
Do you know whether you authorities use the 1995 (RIDDOR)
might need to provide more
than the minimum? How and where you can get more help
Do you know which Electric shock: First-aid RIDDOR explained: Reporting
accidents and ill health cases procedures Poster of Injuries, Diseases and
to report, including who ISBN 0 7176 6203 9 £8.50 Dangerous Occurrences
should do it, when and how? First aid at work Approved Regulations HSE31(rev1)
Employers, the self- Code of Practice and FREE (available in packs of 10
employed and people in guidance L74 ISBN 0 7176 2441 2 £5.00)
control of work premises all ISBN 0 7176 1050 0 £6.75
First aid website:
have duties. Reduce risks – cut costs: The www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid
real costs of accidents and ill
Do you know what accidents health at work INDG355
cost – and that insurance FREE (available in packs of 15 To order any of these titles,
call HSE Books on
policies do not cover all the ISBN 0 7176 2337 8 £5.00)
costs?
01787 881165
Basic advice on first aid at or use the order form at the
work Poster
www.hsebooks.co.uk
ISBN 0 7176 6195 4 £8.50
policy statement | 21
Health and safety

policy statement
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
This is the Health and Safety Policy Statement of
(name of company)
Our statement of general policy is:

● to provide adequate for employees;
control of the health and ● to ensure all employees
safety risks arising from are competent to do their
our work activities; tasks, and to give them
● to consult with our adequate training;
employees on matters ● to prevent accidents and
affecting their health and cases of work-related ill
safety; health;
● to provide and maintain ● to maintain safe and
safe plant and equipment; healthy working
● to ensure safe handling conditions; and
and use of substances; ● to review and revise this
● to provide information, policy as necessary at
instruction and supervision regular intervals.
Signed
(Employer)
Date Review date
22 | responsibilities
Responsibilities
1 Overall and final responsibility for health and safety is that of
2 Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into

practice is delegated to
1 Write your name here.
As the employer you have
overall responsibility for
health and safety.
3 To ensure health and safety standards are maintained/
2 You can delegate improved, the following people have responsibility in the
responsibility for day-to-day following areas
tasks to someone else, eg
Name Responsibility
manager, supervisor. Write
their name here. Make sure
they keep you informed
about health and safety
matters: they are still your
overall responsibility.
3 You can delegate

specific tasks to individuals
in your organisation, by
workplace area or by topic.
Responsibilities should be
clearly set so that if there
are any health and safety
concerns, they can be
reported to the right person
4 All employees have to:
● co-operate with supervisors and managers on health and
4 Employees have legal
safety matters;
responsibilities to take care
● not interfere with anything provided to safeguard their
of the health and safety of
health and safety;
themselves and others, and
● take reasonable care of their own health and safety; and
to co-operate with you to
● report all health and safety concerns to an appropriate
help you comply with the law.
person (as detailed in this policy statement).
responsibilities | 23
Health and safety

risks arising from our
work activities
● Risk assessments will be undertaken by
● The findings of the risk assessments will be reported to

Write down your arrange-
ments for doing your risk
assessment here. You can
use the form on page 33 ● Action required to remove/control risks will be approved by
of this leaflet to record the
findings of your risk
assessment.
will be responsible for ensuring the action required

is implemented.
will check that the implemented actions have

removed/reduced the risks.
● Assessments will be reviewed every
or when the work activity changes, whichever is soonest.
24 | arrangements
Consultation
with employees
● Employee representative(s) are
You must consult your

employees. If you recognise
a union and there is a
union-appointed safety
representative, you must
consult them on matters
affecting the employees
they represent. If you do not
have trade unions, you must
consult employees either
directly or through an elected
representative.
● Consultation with employees is provided by
arrangements | 25
Safe plant
and equipment
will be responsible for identifying all equipment/plant

needing maintenance.
You will need to ensure ●

that all plant and equipment
that requires maintenance
is identified, that the
maintenance is done and will be responsible for ensuring effective maintenance
that new or secondhand procedures are drawn up.
plant and equipment meets
health and safety standards ●
before you buy it.
See page 13 of this leaflet
for more information.
will be responsible for ensuring that all identified
maintenance is implemented.
● Any problems found with plant/equipment should be

reported to
will check that new plant and equipment meets health and
safety standards before it is purchased.
26 | arrangements
Safe handling
and use of substances
will be responsible for identifying all substances which need

a COSHH assessment.
You must assess the ●

risks from all substances
hazardous to health.
These are your COSHH
assessments. Write down will be responsible for undertaking COSHH assessments.
your arrangements for doing
your COSHH assessments ●
here. See page 6 of this
leaflet for more information.
will be responsible for ensuring that all actions identified in

the assessments are implemented.
will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant employees

are informed about the COSHH assessments.
will check that new substances can be used safely before

they are purchased.
● Assessments will be reviewed every
or when the work activity changes, whichever is soonest.
arrangements | 27
Information, instruction
and supervision
● The Health and Safety Law poster is displayed at/ leaflets

are issued by
● Health and safety advice is available from

Write down where you
display the Health and Safety
Law poster, or where the
leaflets are available from,
where people can go for ● Supervision of young workers/trainees will be
health and safety advice and arranged/undertaken/monitored by
what provision you
make for training young
workers or trainees.
is responsible for ensuring that our employees working at

locations under the control of other employers, are given
relevant health and safety information.
28 | arrangements
Competency for tasks

and training
● Induction training will be provided for all employees by
● Job specific training will be provided by

All employees must be given
health and safety induction
training when they start work,
which should cover basics ● Specific jobs requiring special training are
such as first aid and fire
safety. There should also
be job specific health and
safety training. You also have
to provide training if risks
change, and refresher
training when skills are not
frequently used. Write down
your arrangements for training
here, including arrangements
for record keeping.
● Training records are kept at/by
● Training will be identified, arranged and monitored by
arrangements | 29
Accidents, first aid and

work-related ill health
● Health surveillance is required for employees doing the

following jobs
Employees must receive

specialist health surveillance
for certain work. Your COSHH
assessments will identify ● Health surveillance will be arranged by
where this specialist health
surveillance is needed. You
should note down your first
aid arrangements here.
● Health surveillance records will be kept by/at
● The first aid box(es) is/are kept at
● The appointed person(s)/first aider(s) is/are
● All accidents and cases of work-related ill health are to be

recorded in the accident book. The book is kept by/at
is responsible for reporting accidents, diseases and

dangerous occurrences to the enforcing authority.
30 | arrangements
Monitoring
● To check our working conditions, and ensure our safe

working practices are being followed, we will
You must be able to show

that you are monitoring
health and safety. You can
monitor health and safety
actively, eg doing spot check
visits, or reactively, eg
investigating any accidents
or ill health. Record your
procedures here.
is responsible for investigating accidents.
is responsible for investigating work-related causes of

sickness absences.
is responsible for acting on investigation findings to prevent

a recurrence.
arrangements | 31
Emergency procedures –
fire and evacuation
is responsible for ensuring the fire risk assessment is

undertaken and implemented.
Record your emergency ● Escape routes are checked by/every

procedures, how often they
are checked and who by.
● Fire extinguishers are maintained and checked by/every
● Alarms are tested by/every
● Emergency evacuation will be tested every
32 | risk assessment
Your risk assessment

Risk assessment helps you Step 1 Identify the hazards ● Issue personal protective
protect your workers and equipment.
your business, as well as First you need to work out ● Provide welfare facilities.
comply with the law. It helps how people could be
you focus on the risks that harmed. The risk assessment Step 4 Record your
really matter – the ones with form in this booklet includes findings and implement
the potential to cause real tips on how to spot the them
harm. hazards that matter.
If you employ five or more
A risk assessment is simply a Step 2 Decide who might people, the law requires you
careful examination of what in be harmed and how to record your findings. You
your work could cause harm can use a photocopy of the
to people, so that you can Identify groups of people who blank form in this leaflet to do
weigh up whether you have might be harmed and how this. You can also download
taken enough precautions or they might be harmed, eg a form from
should do more to prevent ‘shelf stackers may suffer www.hse.gov.uk/risk.
harm. The law does not back injury from repeated When writing down your
expect you to eliminate all lifting of boxes’. results, keep it simple.
risk, but you are required to
protect people ‘so far as is Step 3 Evaluate the risks If, like many businesses, you
reasonably practicable’. and decide on precautions find that there are quite a lot
of improvements that you
When thinking about your risk Having spotted the hazards, could make, don’t try to do
assessment, remember: you then need to decide everything at once. Make a
what to do about them. plan of action to deal with the
● a hazard is anything that Compare what you currently most important things first.
may cause harm, such as do with what’s accepted as
chemicals, electricity, good practice. If there is a Step 5 Review your risk
working from ladders, an difference, list what needs to assessment and update if
open drawer; be done. necessary
● the risk is the chance,
high or low, that When controlling risks, apply Few workplaces stay the
somebody could be these principles, if possible in same, so it makes sense to
harmed by these and this order: review what you are doing on
other hazards, together an ongoing basis. Every year
with an indication of how ● Try a less risky option. or so, formally review where
serious the harm could ● Prevent access to the you are to make sure you are
be. hazard. still improving, or at least not
● Organise work to reduce sliding back. Set a date for
exposure to the hazard. the review and put it in your
diary so you don’t forget it.
risk assessment | 33
Company name:
Step 1 Step 2
What are the hazards? Who might be harmed and how?
Spot hazards by: Identify groups of people. Remember:
■ walking around your workplace; ■ some workers have particular needs;

■ asking your employees what they think; ■ people who may not be in the workplace all the
■ visiting the Your industry areas of the HSE time;
website or calling HSE Infoline; ■ members of the public;
■ calling the Workplace Health Connect Adviceline ■ if you share your workplace think about how your
or visiting their website; work affects others present.
■ checking manufacturers’ instructions;
■ contacting your trade association. Say how the hazard could cause harm.
Don’t forget long-term health hazards.
Step 5 Review date:
This template can be downloaded from the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/risk
risk assessment | 34
Date of risk assessment:
Step 3 What further action is Step 4

What are you already necessary? How will you put the
doing? assessment into action?
List what is already in place to You need to make sure that you Remember to prioritise. Deal
reduce the likelihood of harm or have reduced risks ‘so far as is with those hazards that are
make any harm less serious. reasonably practicable’. An easy high-risk and have serious
way of doing this is to compare consequences first.
what you are already doing with
good practice. If there is a
difference, list what needs to be Action Action Done
done. by whom by when
■ Review your assessment to make sure you are still improving, or at least not sliding back.
■ If there is a significant change in your workplace, remember to check your risk assessment and where
necessary, amend it.
Feel free to photocopy this template for your own risk assessment.
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08/06 148
Further information
HSE priced and free publications are available by mail
order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury,
Suffolk CO10 2WA
Tel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995
Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk
(HSE priced publications are also available from
bookshops and free leaflets can be downloaded from
HSE’s website: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns.)
For information about health and safety ring HSE’s Infoline

Tel: 0845 345 0055 Fax: 0845 408 9566 Textphone:
0845 408 9577 e-mail: hse.infoline@natbrit.com or
write to HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business
Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
This leaflet contains notes on good practice which are not

compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering
what you need to do.
This leaflet is available in priced packs of 5 from HSE

Books, ISBN 0 7176 2685 7. Single free copies are also
available from HSE Books.
© Crown copyright This publication may be freely reproduced,

except for advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes.
First published 04/03. Please acknowledge the source as HSE.
INDG259(rev1) Reprinted 08/06 C3000

Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive

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Intro Health &amp; Safety

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An introduction

to health and safety

Health and safety in small businesses

What you should know about – where to get more information

The mistake is to believe that these things happen in highly unusual

Implementing health and safety measures doesn’t have to be

This is especially important if you are in charge of work activities,

Ten questions and

It’s your business – so look after it!

How to use this booklet–

Have you got health and

M anaging health and

What are the chances

Do people use unlit areas

Might temporary work such

Slips and trips: Guidance for To order any of these titles,

Do you work with,

Do you work with

T housands of people are

Is there dust and fume

Do you perform work

Simple guide to the Provision

How and where you can get more help

Do you use computers

Are people complaining of

How and where you can get more help

H igh levels of noise at

Are noisy powered tools or

Are there noisy bangs from

Noise at Work: Guidance for Noise website:

Are you exposed

V ibration from work with

Whole-body vibration. The To order any of these titles,

How safe is electricity

E lectricity can kill. Most

Is your electrical equipment

Do you choose equipment

Do you dig in the street,

Do you know how to

by a competent person. FREE (available in packs of 15 01787 881165

What are the risks

Are loading and unloading

Are all vehicles properly Safety in working with lift

Do you know that most What law applies?

How and where you can get more help

Safety of Pressure Systems. To order any of these titles,

Are you feeling stressed

M any people argue about

Working together to reduce To order any of these titles,

Health and safety

Our statement of general policy is:

Date Review date

1 Overall and ﬁnal responsibility for health and safety is that of

2 Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is put into

3 You can delegate

Health and safety

● The ﬁndings of the risk assessments will be reported to

will be responsible for ensuring the action required

will check that the implemented actions have

● Assessments will be reviewed every

or when the work activity changes, whichever is soonest.

● Employee representative(s) are

You must consult your

● Consultation with employees is provided by

Intro Health & Safety

Intro Health & Safety