Health and safety at work

Not many would be aware of this, but the government has legislation for health and safety of people at work. The Health and safety at work etc Act 1974 requires the employers to have proper health and safety management systems at work. The Act makes provision for securing the health of people at work, welfare and safety of the employees including the people who are not directly employed by the company like contractors and visitors.

While the law exists and it is mandatory for the employers to follow the guidelines, it is also necessary for the employees to know about their rights and duties regarding their own health & safety. Employers should conduct a General Risk Assessment to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

To create awareness about health & safety at work, the employers should have proper employee induction & health and safety training programs whenever new employees join the company. The induction program should educate the employees about the safety standards, procedures and policies of the company.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

Leave comment

Construction Health And Safety Regulations

Fatal and injury accidents in the construction industry within the UK are reported annually, making the construction industry one of the most dangerous industries to work in. Although various construction industry occupation health and safety measures have been put in place, the ever-changing construction dangers make it difficult to effectively mitigate against the same. This leads to unforeseen accidents, which result in loss of life and serious injuries amongst construction workers.

The common dangers, which lead to loss of life and injuries amongst construction workers are falls from high points, accidents in excavation areas, falling objects, construction machinery and construction motor vehicle crashes within construction sites. To minimise dangers and risks that construction laborers face in the course of their work, various construction health and safety regulations have been legislated. Such legislations are same to those across Europe, especially in EU member countries since they are directives made up the relevant organs of the EU. The varied safety regulations are specific, targeting the inherent dangers and risks that pertain to every section of the construction industry. The Management of Health and Safety at work regulations of 1999 specifically explain how safety systems at a construction site are managed. Other regulations that target specific areas include the Provision and Use of Work Equipment regulations of 1998, Manual Handling Operations regulations of 1992, Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare regulations of 1992 and Personal Protective Equipment regulations of the same year.

Not all construction health and safety regulations address construction companies only. Some, such as the Personal Protective Equipment regulations of 1992 specifically target construction laborers, requiring them to always undertake work with appropriate protective gear to enhance their safety. Failure on the part of either construction employees or company managers to follow to these regulations amounts to criminal offense punishable by conviction, fine or both.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

Leave comment

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act

Drowning is one of the most dreaded of all ways to die, a recurring theme in bad dreams and horror movies, yet each year in the United States hundreds of people drown in pools and spas, including almost 300 children under the age of 5. Particularly disturbing are the deaths, injuries and trauma associated with Suction Entrapment, which involves a person getting caught on a bottom drain or other suction port and held by it under the water. The victim risks not only drowning but evisceration by the powerful suction action of the pump. The June 2002 Suction Entrapment death of the young child of a prominent American family set in motion what became the Virginia Graeme Baker Act, with the goal of eliminating suction entrapment and further reducing other pool and spa-related deaths and injuries. That act puts into motion mandatory changes to improve swimming pool and spa  safety for children and adults throughout the USA .

Every drowning death and injury is preventable with necessary supervision and care in the construction, maintenance and operation of the pools and spas. The VGB Act mandates some changes in construction methods, safety devices and pool access but ultimately the most effective safety measures are increased education and supervision. While the VGB Act focuses on improving safety in publicly operated pools, residential pool proposals are also made. Major provisions of this legislation include:

1.      Requiring that every public pool in the USA be equipped with anti-entrapment devices and systems.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , ,

Leave comment

Page 9 of 42« First...7891011203040...Last »