Health & Safety

Workplaces

General Workplace Regulations The Workplace Regulations provide for workplace standards. The standards cover the design, layout and features of the workplace. They prescribe facilities for the welfare of employees. The current workplace regulations replace regulations first introduced in 1993.… Read the rest

Workplace Issues

Building Regulations Some of the Workplace Regulations replicate building regulation standards. Building Regulations apply to new buildings and where there is any construction, alteration or a material change of use of an existing building. The Building Regulations specify building standards on a number of levels from standards of construction to minimum facilities.… Read the rest

Workplace Facilities

Food and Drink An adequate supply of drinking water must be provided and maintained at suitable points, conveniently accessible for employees. Suitable and adequate facilities for boiling water and taking meals must be provided and maintained.… Read the rest

To Whom Owed

Duties to Employees Most duties under health safety and welfare legislation are owed to employees. An employee is defined as a person who has entered into or works under a contract of employment. It includes a fixed-term employee and a temporary employee.… Read the rest

Third Party Duties

Duties of Provider of Articles A person who designs manufactures, imports or supplies any article for use at work shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the article is designed and constructed so as to be safe and without risk to health when properly used by a person at a place of work.… Read the rest

The HSA

Health and Safety Authority The Health Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005, continued the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health in being. It changed its name to the Health and Safety Authority. The Authority is a body corporate The Health Safety and Welfare Authority (the HSA) has a range of duties and powers to promote and enforce safety and welfare in the workplace.… Read the rest

Stress Issues

Cases on Stress I A number of cases have been successfully taken in the UK and Ireland, for the consequences of stress. The leading UK case involved a nervous breakdown brought on by overwork. The employer had failed to take steps to reduce the workload or provide the appropriate support.… Read the rest

Statutory Duties

Negligence and Statutory Duty Where there has been a workplace accident, the employer may be liable to compensate the employee on the basis of negligence and / or breach of a specific statutory duty. Both are often claimed together or in the alternative.… Read the rest

Special Protections

Night Workers There are limitations on night working and shift working, which recognise the particular dangers that they may pose. Night work is subject to risks by way of physical or mental strain. If an employee who is engaged in night work, exhibits symptoms of ill health, which are recognised as being connected with night work, the employer must reassign him to non-night work duties, where possible.… Read the rest

Smoking

Smoking Ban The smoking of tobacco products is prohibited in almost all places of work. It covers most indoor places of work. Prior to the general smoking ban, there were wide-ranging bans on smoking in the workplace.… Read the rest