Unit 4222-208 (Hsc 027) Essay - 12711 Words

Outcome 1 Understand own responsibilities, and responsibilities of others, relting to health and safety in the work setting. 1. Identify legislation relating to general health and safety in a health or social care work setting. The European Parliament issues Directives on all legislation, including Health amp; Safety. 1989 saw six Health amp; Safety Directives issued. They had to be applied as law by each of the Member countries. By authority given to the Secretary of Sate these Directives became Regulations enforceable from January 1st 1993. The Health amp; Safety at Work etc Act is the Ê ºparentÊ º of all UK Health amp; Safety legislation. THE HEALTH amp; SAFETY AT WORK ACT (HSWA) 1974 This Act covers all people at work,†¦show more content†¦Over two million suffer illnesses caused by, or made worse by, their work. Section 2 of the HSW Act deals with employersÊ ¹ duties, and states: Ê ºIt shall be the duty of all employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health safety and welfare of all their employees whilst they are at work.Ê º To achieve this employersÊ ¹ need to: †¢ Provide and maintain safe plant and equipment †¢ Ensure safe use, handling storage and transportation of any articles substances and materials used during the course of their work †¢ Ensure the health and safety of their employees by providing adequate information, instruction, training and supervision as required †¢ Provide and maintain a safe working environment by the use of safe systems of work †¢ Provide adequate welfare facilities such as toilets, first aid facilities and changing rooms, along with safe maintained access and egress What is considered to be Ê ¹adequate information, instruction and trainingÊ ¹ will, of course, be dependent on the age and competency of the employees; for new processes or young/inexperienced employees, the supervision will need to be on a far more frequent basis than for established working procedures. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states: ‘provide clear information, supervision and training for employees and ensure that suitably competent people are