Managing Health and Safety is a key responsibility for both employers and employees.
Responsibilities
- Health and safety at work (DirectGov)
Information on rights and responsibilities related to health and safety, stress, accidents in the workplace and more health and safety information
Responsibility for enforcement is split between the Local Authority and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Charnwood Borough Council's Environmental Health Services enforces health and safety legislation in certain types of work places in the Borough. It inspects workplaces, investigates accidents and cases of ill health, enforces good standards, usually by providing advice, but sometimes by ordering improvements to be made (if necessary, by prosecution), distributes health and safety information (e.g. leaflets and regular newsletters) and answer queries.
Employers
- Advice for employers on managing health and safety (Business Link)
- Legal responsibilities of the employer for health and safety (Business Link)
- Permits, licences and guidance by environmental topic (NetRegs Government web site)
- Employers' health and safety responsibilities (DirectGov)
- A health and safety guide for managers (HSE)
- Health and safety in small businesses (HSE)
- Starting a new business – what you must do regarding health and safety (HSE)
- Reporting accidents (Charnwood Borough Council)
Employees
- Health and safety responsibilities of individuals (Business Link)
- Employees' health and safety responsibilities (DirectGov)
Health and Safety Policy, Operation and Assessment
- Creating and operating a health and safety policy (Business Link)
- Write your health and safety policy (HSE)
- Self assessment of performance on health and safety (Business Link)
- Risk assessment (Business Link)
- Risk management (Charnwood Borough Council)
- Meet minimum workplace standards (Business Link)
- Manage harmful substances safely (Business Link)
Health and Safety Information / Legislation and its Enforcement
Too many people use health and safety as an excuse to hide behind, the Chair of the Health and Safety Executive has warned.
The health and safety regulations that do apply depend upon the nature of the business.
- Search by industry (HSE – choose by industry or topic in the Getting Started box). This gives the main causes of injury and specific advice on hazards relevant to that industry. Search by topic gives advice on an alphabetical list of topics from asbestos to welding.
- Find out about what health and safety legislation applies to you.
- HSE books and leaflets free to download or buy
The Commercial Group at Charnwood Borough Council have produced a Health and Safety Handbook which has been distributed to low risk businesses in the Borough where they no longer form part of the proactive inspection programme.The Borough Council has identified a number of key health and safety priorities:-