Health and safety at work
The cornerstone of work-related health and safety legislation in the UK is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, or HSWA. It imposes general duties on all employers and the self-employed to ensure the health and safety of those who may be a...
Health surveillance
Employers who expose their employees to certain chemicals, physical agents, materials or ergonomic risks may be required to undertake systematic, regular and appropriate health surveillance on those employees. This requirement is set out under spe...
Inspection
There are numerous bodies tasked with enforcing health and safety legislation in the UK. The HSE concerns itself with factories, agriculture, mines and quarries, docks and railways, whereas Local Authorities oversee, amongst others, shops, offices...
Legionella
Legionella bacteria occur in most fresh water, usually at such low levels that they are harmless. Once inside a water system, however, if conditions favour growth, they can multiply to levels that pose risk of infection, but this level does not eq...
Loneworking
Loneworkers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. The definition is very loose, because anyone can be a loneworker if the occasion presents itself – it could include someone working late to finish a report, or...
Manual handling
Manual handling has been defined as ‘any handling task involving the human body as the power source’. It therefore includes lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying and holding. The most common injuries that occur as a result of m...