What Is My Duty as an Employer?
As experts in occupational health and safety with a long-standing tradition of working with rural businesses, here at Green's of Haddington, we support organisations in all areas of the country in their mission to provide a safer, healthier working environment. Find out what your duties are as an employer.
Understanding your obligations as an employer is essential
The Health & safety at Work etc Act 1974 places general duties on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its employees.
The employer and the self-employed must also ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of persons other than employees that might be affected by the business's undertakings
One of the key requirements is to have a Health & Safety Policy and to undertake Risk Assessments
The majority of current legislation requires the employer and the self-employed to carry out risk assessments to identify the hazards and risks associated with their business and to identify control measures that minimise the risks to staff and other persons who may be affected of injury or ill health
The following is a list of some of the most common areas that require risk assessments.
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Safety
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Substances Hazardous to Health
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Fire
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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
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Legionella
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Asbestos
The importance of a health and safety policy
If there are 5 or more employees, the health and safety policy, risk assessments and subsequent arrangements for their implementation and management must be in written form. The employees must be provided with the information.
Employers must also provide relevant health and safety information to persons other than their employees who might be affected. e.g. contractors.
Green’s of Haddington Ltd put all these three elements into one staff manual which contains health and safety information that relates to each individual.
Contact Green's of Haddington Ltd for advice on occupational health and safety with a special focus on rural businesses
01620 829666