Health and Safety laws state that employees have the right to work in a safe environment. This makes health and safety an important consideration for anyone who owns or runs a business. Employers must make sure that their employee’s safety is paramount during their time at work, or while undertaking tasks related to the job. The specific health and safety requirements on behalf of employees’ depends on the type of job. There are obvious dangers in certain sectors, such as builders and the police. The rules depend on the line of work. Whatever the line of work relevant safety equipment must be provided and maintained.

Employers can be held responsible if they do not provide a safe working environment. There have been an increasing number of cases in recent years of employees taking legal action against employers when they have been injured as a result of a work related accident. Due to this employers are being more cautious than even when it comes to health and safety throughout their workplace.

Some industries are very heavily regulated with others less so. The catering industry is a good example, with regular health inspections carried out at cafes and restaurants by inspectors to insure the health and safety of both staff and customers. Health and safety covers a large array of areas. This includes physical safety, so injuries are avoided wherever possible, but also mental health, especially in industries such as the police and armed forces where their experiences can lead to psychological problems. Computer safety is another factor that needs to be considered in the relevant working environments.

Below are some examples of how health and safety can play a role in different industries.

Fire Fighters

There are obvious dangers in the fire service. Of course some of these are inevitable and unavoidable, but there are many things that can be done to protect Fire Fighters. The best available equipment is used so they can cope with difficult fire conditions. These include protective clothing and breathing apparatus.

The Police

Just like with Fire Fighters, there are always potential dangers for the police force. They can have contact with potentially dangerous people so must be protected as much as possible. In certain circumstances they could encounter criminals with firearms so must be given bullet proof vests to minimise the danger.

General Offices

Although an office may seem like a safe working environment, there are still possible health and safety issues. If using computers repetitive strain injury (RSI) and eyesight problems are possible. It is therefore important that employees take regular breaks from using a computer. Electrical safety is also a potential problem, so PAT Testing should be carried out on computer equipment, as well as other electrical appliances.

Kitchens

Food safety is paramount in eateries, although this is likely to affect customers more than employees; although employees may also eat food prepared on the premises. Kitchens tend to be a fast working environment with quick decisions and actions have to be made. It is therefore important employees are careful as there is the potential for slipping on spills for example.

Supermarkets

Spillages are again a potential safety concern. Items falling off shelves are also a possibility, which could result in broken glass. Supermarkets can be extremely busy which makes health and safety even more important.

Factories

Machinery in factories has the potential to be deadly. There must be emergency stops buttons on machinery in case of an urgent situation. There are rules regarding jewellery, long hair and loose clothing to prevent things getting caught in machinery.

Andrew Marshall (c)