Environmental Health

Health and Safety FAQ

1. How is Health and Safety enforced in Taunton Deane?
2. Who will be my enforcing authority?
3. What insurance will I need?
4. Do I have to display any notices?
5. Do I need to have a written safety policy?
6. Who is responsible for Health and Safety?
7. Do I have to carry out risk assessments?
8. What if someone has an accident?
9. Does my work equipment have to be tested?
10. When should electrical equipment be checked?
11. What are the requirements for accessing the workplace?
12. What about the workplace?
13. Must I provide toilet facilities?
14. What must I do to protect against fire?
15. How should I store flammable goods?
16. What first aid facilities should I provide?
17. How do I organise traffic routes?
18. How should loads be moved?
19. Should I issue personal protective equipment?
20. How do I dispose of waste?

1. How is Health and Safety enforced in Taunton Deane?

The Environmental Health Department operates a 'Positive not Punitive' approach to the enforcement of health and safety at work. We encourage all businesses and employing organisations within Taunton Deane to contact us if they have any concerns about health and safety matters. We endeavour to deal with your queries in a prompt and effective manner and to give sound advice. Unfortunately there are rare occasions when we find people to be in imminent danger of personal injury or that the law is being wilfully disregarded. On such occasions we will take appropriate action. These notes are intended to give a simple guide to some of the main requirements of health and safety law. We hope you find them useful and help you to maintain the health and safety of your employees as part of the workforce of Taunton Deane.

2. Who will be my enforcing authority?

All premises where people are employed to work must be registered with the appropriate Enforcing Authority. In the case of offices, shops and premises offering leisure or personal services this will probably be: The Environmental Health Department Taunton Deane Borough Council The Deane House Belvedere Road TAUNTON. TA1 1HE. Tel: 01823 356340. Fax: 01823 351801. In the case of factories, workshops and other businesses it will probably be: The Health and Safety Executive, Inter City House, Mitchell Lane, Victoria Street, BRISTOL Tel: HSE Infoline 0845 345 0055. If you are unsure, please contact us.

3. What insurance will I need?

If you employ anyone you must have a valid Employers Liability Insurance and the certificate should be displayed where all employees can see it. If members of the public or visitors are allowed on your premises you should have adequate Public Liability Insurance. Your insurance broker is the best person to advise about these requirements.

4. Do I have to display any notices?

The poster 'Health and Safety Law-What you should Know' (ISBN 0 7176 24935) is obtainable from most booksellers or from HSE Books (Tel: 01787 881165. Fax: 01787 313995.) and must be displayed in a prominent place in all work premises. It may be more convenient for small firms to distribute the equivalent leaflet to each employee. There may be other notices which are required under specific regulations according to the activities of the organisation.

5. Do I need to have a written safety policy?

If you employ five or more people you must have a written Safety Policy which details your commitment to providing a safe and healthy place of work, the people who are responsible for implementing the policy and the organisation and arrangements which you have put in place to make sure that the intention of the policy is carried out. All employees must be made aware of the policy and their part in making sure that it works. It is sensible for smaller businesses to develop a policy regarding health and safety, they can soon grow and often overlook the need for a written record.

6. Who is responsible for Health and Safety?

Everyone at work has responsibilities under health and safety law. It is important that systems are in place which identify those responsibilities and set standards to maintain safe places of work, safe equipment and safe working practices. It is the responsibility of everyone at work to look after themselves and to make sure that their activities do not cause harm to anyone else.

7. Do I have to carry out risk assessments?

Most current legislation requires that risk assessments are carried out to identify hazards and enable controls to be put into place to prevent damage or injury. The 'Health and Safety Workbook' provided by the Environmental Health Department describes a risk assessment process and contains pro formas for carrying it out. You must identify any hazards in your workplace or relating to what you use or what you do and which might put anyone at risk of personal injury or damage to health. You must control such risk and make sure that anyone who might be exposed to a hazard is made aware of it and knows what to do to minimise the risk. You will need to consider whether anyone might:- 1. Slip, trip or fall either from height or on level ground. 2. Be exposed to something which could cause harm. (Hazardous substances, dust and fumes, noise, fire etc.) 3. Come into contact with something which could cause them harm. (Moving machinery, sharp edges, electricity, dangerous animals etc.) 4. Suffer a strain injury. (Lifting heavy weights, pushing or pulling, repetitive movement etc.) 5. Have their movements restricted. (Confined spaces, being trapped, oxygen deficiency etc.). Written records must be kept for any significant risk which has been identified.

8. What if someone has an accident?

All accidents , however minor, must be recorded in the Accident Book. Major accidents involving employees whilst at work must be reported as soon as possible to the Enforcing Authority and confirmed within 10 days on a completed form F2508. All incidents resulting in employees being absent from work for more than 3 days must be reported within 10 days using F2508. Accidents which result in a member of the public being taken to hospital from your premises must be reported to the Enforcing Authority.

9. Does my work equipment have to be tested?

All work equipment must be suitable for the task and must be properly maintained. If you use a crane, hoist or other lifting equipment, if your premises have a lift or if you have a compressor you may need to keep a record of statutory examination. Your insurance company will advise you and arrange for the examination to be carried out.

10. When should electrical equipment be checked?

All electrical equipment and electrical systems should be tested by a competent person for electrical safety on a regular basis. It may be useful for a record to be kept of such tests. The period between tests will vary according to use. An electrical system in a building may only require testing at ten yearly intervals whereas a portable electrical tool in regular use and subject to abuse may need testing prior to every use. A visual check should be carried out before using any electrical equipment to identify any damaged cables or signs of burning. No one should attempt any electrical repairs unless they have the technical knowledge and experience to avoid the possibility of danger or injury.

11. What are the requirements for accessing the workplace?

The means for getting to and from the workplace must be safe, free from obstruction, clean and tidy and adequately lit.

12. What about the workplace?

All floors and staircases must be kept in good repair, free from obstruction, clean and tidy and adequately lit. Waste materials and rubbish must not be allowed to accumulate in the workplace and must be properly disposed of. The atmosphere in any workplace must be free from dust, fumes or any other impurity which could endanger health. The temperature should provide reasonable comfort for those working there. A thermometer should be provided on each floor or in each workroom. Appropriate lighting should be provided to ensure that the work being carried out can be accomplished without eyestrain.

13. Must I provide toilet facilities?

Suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences and washing facilities must be provided. Washing facilities must have hot and cold or warm water and a means for cleaning and drying.

14. What must I do to protect against fire?

There must be a means for raising the alarm in case of fire and everyone must know what to do if they hear it. The alarm must be effective over the whole of the site. Fire escape routes must be kept clear of obstruction at all times. Fire exit doors must not be locked whilst people are in the building. A means for fighting fire must be provided and regularly maintained for use. Your local fire prevention officer is a good source for advice.

15. How should I store flammable goods?

Do not store flammable goods in the workplace in quantities which exceed that which would be used during a normal working day. Keep them in a separate store or fireproof cabinet.

16. What first aid facilities should I provide?

You must provide adequate facilities for first aid should anyone become ill or injured at work. The number of employees and the type of work being carried out will determine what you require. A person must be appointed to take charge in case of emergency. Notices must be displayed to indicate the whereabouts of first aiders and who is in charge of the first aid box.

17. How do I organise traffic routes?

Wherever possible vehicles and pedestrians should be kept separate from each other. Where such separation is not possible traffic management systems are essential to prevent accidents. Fork Lift Trucks must be driven only by certificated drivers and should only be used for the purpose for which they were designed.

18. How should loads be moved?

When it is not possible to avoid manual handling the system of work must be designed to minimise the possibility of strain injury. Mechanical or other assistance must be used when required. Anyone who is required to move a load using physical effort must be made aware of any dangers and properly trained.

19. Should I issue personal protective equipment?

If you cannot reduce risk by any other means you must issue personal protective equipment. The equipment issued must be suitable for the hazard, properly maintained and stored and the operator must be shown how to use it.

20. How do I dispose of waste?

There are very strict rules which govern the disposal of industrial waste. Make sure you only use reputable waste management contractors and that any waste produced by you is disposed of at an appropriate licensed site. The waste disposal department at Somerset County Council and the Environment Agency are good sources for advice.