ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY LEGISLATIONS

In this lesson, you will learn:

Understand the importance of complying with EHS legislation for environmental protection.
Implement effective health and safety measures to protect workers and the public.
Ensure proper training and provision of personal protective equipment for employees.
Tailor health and safety management to meet the specific needs of the company.

Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) legislations are laws and regulations that are designed
to protect the environment, the health of workers, and the public. The Health and Safety at Work Act
1974 is the UK's main occupational health and safety act and associated regulations. There are also
important regulations that are critical to managing health and safety in the workplace. Implementing
these regulations does not have to be overwhelming, time-consuming or costly. The Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) is the government-appointed body responsible for enforcing health and safety
laws in the UK in the workplace.

However, when enforcing the application, this responsibility is generally shared between the HSE and
the relevant local authorities. As mentioned above, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1974 is
the main occupational safety and health law in Britain, however, other regulations must be
implemented which are designed to keep your workplace safe and in good standing. Below are the
key points of health and safety regulations that most workplaces will need to comply with, although
additional or more specific regulations may also be relevant depending on business areas.

Adequate training of personnel to ensure that health and safety procedures are understood and
followed.
Adequate protective measures for personnel at work.
A safe work environment that is properly maintained and in which operations are carried out
safely Provides appropriate provision of relevant information, instructions and supervision.

According to the Display Screen Equipment Regulations (DSE), users are required to have a
suitable workstation to protect workers from occupational health hazards. According to government
guidance, employers must comply with DSE regulations to protect the health of DSE users. This
includes ensuring proper evaluation of DSE workstations, minimizing associated risks such as taking
regular breaks from DSE work and providing complementary equipment.

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The Personal Safety Equipment (PPE) regulations require employers to provide their workers with
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to reduce the potential risk of harm if it cannot be reduced or
minimized in other ways. This includes ensuring that the PPE is:

Appropriate: The PPE must be suitable for the specific hazards that the worker is exposed to.
Compatible: The PPE must be compatible with other safety equipment that the worker is
using.
Effective: The PPE must be effective in protecting the worker from harm.
Maintained and stored properly: The PPE must be kept clean, in good condition and stored
in a safe place.

Accordingly, an employer must:

Avoid efficient manual handling tasks, as far as possible, by redesigning the work to avoid
shifting the load or by automating or mechanizing the process.
Assess the risk of injury in the event of dangerous manual handling that cannot be properly
avoided.
Minimize the risk of injury during these operations as much as possible. If possible, provide
mechanical assistance, such as a sack truck or wave. If this is not reasonable, consider changes
in workload and work environment.

Health and safety regulations apply to all companies, regardless of their size or sector. Employers
have a responsibility to ensure that health and safety is effectively managed in their workplace. The
approach to health and safety management should be tailored to the specific needs of the company,
taking into account the type of work, the size of the company and the level of risk involved. For most
small businesses with a low-risk environment, simple health and safety arrangements may be
sufficient.

Reference:

The Health and Safety at Work Act Explained. Available at:

https://www.britsafe.org/training-and-learning/find-the-right-course-for-you/informational-resources/
health-and-safety-legislation-what-you-need-to-know/

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