Health and Safety
Good practice in health and safety is good for your business – and it's the law. HSE is there to help – their online advice and tools, and their free, confidential helpline can help save you time and effort getting started.
Key annual figures 2008/09 (UK)
- 1.2 million people who worked during the last year were suffering from an illness (long standing as well as new cases) they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work. 551 000 of these were new cases.
- 180 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.6 per 100 00 workers.
- 131 895 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 502.2 per 100 000 employees.
- 246 000 reportable injuries occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey, a rate of 870 per 100 000 workers.
- 29.3 million days were lost overall (1.24 days per worker), 24.6 million due to work-related ill health and 4.7 million due to workplace injury.
Key figures (Wales)
- In 2008/09, an estimated 45 000 people in Wales, who worked in the last year, believed they were suffering from a work-related illness, according to the Labour Force Survey (LFS). This equates to a prevalence rate of 3200 per 100 000 people (3.2%) working in the last 12 months.
- The incidence rate of reportable non-fatal injury in Wales was 1100 per 100 000 workers (1.1%) in 2007/08 (three-year average), based on results from the LFS.
- In 2008/09, the LFS showed that an estimated 1.5 million working days (full-day equivalent) were lost in Wales due to workplace injury and work-related ill health.
- In 2008/09(p), 5 workers were fatally injured at work, compared with 19 workers in 2007/08. The number of major injuries to employees recorded in Wales fell from 1 753 in 2007/08 to 1 620 in 2008/09(p).
- In Wales, 44 offences were prosecuted by HSE, and 23 offences were prosecuted by local authorities in 2008/09
For more information on Health and Safety, visit the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) web site: here.
Alternatively, You can contact them: 0845 345 0055
Employees Responsibilities & Rights
Employers have legal obligations to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. As an employee, you have rights, and you have responsibilities for your own wellbeing and that of your colleagues. This article explains what these responsibilities are, and how you can meet them.
Your rights
Your rights as an employee to work in a safe and healthy environment are given to you by law, and generally can't be changed or removed by your employer. The most important rights are:
** as far as possible, to have any risks to your health and safety properly controlled
** to be provided, free of charge, with any personal protective and safety equipment
** if you have reasonable concerns about your safety, to stop work and leave your work area, without being disciplined
** to tell your employer about any health and safety concerns you have
** to get in touch with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your local authority if your employer won't listen to your concerns, without being disciplined
** to have rest breaks during the working day, to have time off from work during the working week, and to have annual paid holiday
Your responsibilities
Your most important responsibilities as an employee are:
** to take reasonable care of your own health and safety
** if possible avoid wearing jewellery or loose clothing if operating machinery
** if you have long hair or wear a headscarf, make sure it's tucked out of the way (it could get caught in machinery)
** to take reasonable care not to put other people - fellow employees and members of the public - at risk by what you do or don't do in the course of your work
** to co-operate with your employer, making sure you get proper training and you understand and follow the company's health and safety policies
** not to interfere with or misuse anything that's been provided for your health, safety or welfare
** to report any injuries, strains or illnesses you suffer as a result of doing your job (your employer may need to change the way you work)
** to tell your employer if something happens that might affect your ability to work (eg becoming pregnant or suffering an injury). Because your employer has a legal responsibility for your health and safety, they may need to suspend you while they find a solution to the problem, but you will normally be paid if this happens
** if you drive or operate machinery, to tell your employer if you take medication that makes you drowsy - they should temporarily move you to another job if they have one for you to do.
Personal protective equipment
Your employer must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to you free of charge. You must use this correctly, and follow the training and instruction you have been given.
In some jobs, failure to use PPE properly can be grounds for disciplinary action or even dismissal. However, you can refuse to wear PPE if it puts your safety at risk (eg PPE of the wrong size could put you at risk because of its poor fit). Ask your employer or the firm's safety representative for the right size (which must be provided free of charge).
Sikhs who wear turbans can legally refuse to wear head protection on religious grounds, but Sikhs who don't wear turbans must wear head protection.
This information was taken from Direct.gov.uk. To view your employers health and safety responsibilities and rights, please visit Direct.gov.uk