A Comprehensive Guide to The Health and Safety at Work Act

From slips and trips to nasty falls and manual handling injuries, storage spaces and warehouses can be dangerous places to be if there are no Health and Safety policies in places.

Accidents like the ones we’ve just mentioned can prove to be detrimental for a company and can lead to a shortage of staff as well as a drain on revenue. Understanding and implementing the health and safety standards that are outlined in the Health and Safety at Work Act can play a significant role in protecting employees, but what exactly do business owners need to know about this Act?

Our Health & Safety Guide

What is the Health and Safety at Work Act exactly?

To put it simply, the sole aim of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is to secure the health and safety of employees and the public from risks that are posed by the workplace.

A Summary of the Key Points of the Act.

  • It requires all employers to have a ‘General Duty of Care’ meaning that they must make every effort possible to manage the health, safety and welfare of each of their employees.
  • Employers must take it upon themselves to review health and safety practices and in situations where there are five or more staff members employed, employers must ensure that some kind of written policy is in place.
  • When it comes to delegating health and safety responsibilities to staff, employers must ensure that their employees are competent enough. For this reason, employers should only hire candidates that have the necessary qualifications and experience.
  • Risk assessments should be carried out on a routine basis. Exploring the workplace and identifying any potential hazards, risk assessments dramatically reduce the possibility of accidents from taking place.

It’s imperative that all business owners comply with all the regulations that are set in place by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Here at First Floors Ltd, we specialise in Mezzanine Floors and a range of other products including handrails that are manufactured with safety in mind.

First Floors Mezzanine (UK) Ltd specialise in all aspects of mezzanine floors & flooring, including mezzanine floor design, manufacture and installation, suspended ceilings and partitioning.