Web Leaflets

Skin Diseases (Occupational Dermatoses) INTRODUCTION Occupational dermatoses are common. About four million working days are lost in the UK each year because of skin disease, the total cost to British industry running into millions of pounds. No occupation can be considered entirely free from the hazard of skin diseases and equally not all [...]

Sick Building Syndrome INTRODUCTION Almost everyone occasionally suffers common symptoms such as headaches, dry throat or sore eyes.  But there are occasions when people in particular buildings experience these sorts of symptoms more often than is usual.  Symptoms tend to increase in severity with the time spent in the building and improve over [...]

Safety Signs INTRODUCTION The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 require employers to provide and maintain safety signs where there is significant risk to health and safety that has not been avoided or controlled by other means (e.g. safe systems of work) provided that the use of a sign can [...]

Safety Representatives and Safety Committees INTRODUCTION The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 were made under section 15 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.  They have been subsequently amended by:- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and The Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) [...]

Health and Safety Policy and Statements INTRODUCTION Businesses which are successful in achieving high standards of health and safety have health and safety policies which contribute to their business performance.  Policies should be cost effective and aimed at preserving and developing both human and physical resources within the business whilst also achieving reductions [...]

Roofwork INTRODUCTION On average 28 workers are killed each year and several hundred are seriously injured as a result of working on roofs.  Members of the public are also killed and injured when hit by materials falling or thrown carelessly from roofs.  Nearly all roofwork fatalities could have been prevented by the provision [...]

Risk Assessment INTRODUCTION The Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations 1999 require all employers and self-employed persons to assess the risks to workers and any others who may be affected by their undertaking.  Many employers already carry out what might be considered to be risk assessments on a day-to-day basis [...]

Respiratory Sensitisers INTRODUCTION Breathing in respiratory sensitisers can cause occupational asthma and other allergic conditions such as rhinitis and conjunctivitis.  Once the sensitisation reaction has taken place, further exposure to the substance, even in very small amounts, will produce the symptoms.  Sensitisation does not usually take place right away but happens after several [...]

H & S Guidance - Respiratory Protective Equipment INTRODUCTION Damage to health and death can be caused by breathing in hazardous substances, such as dusts, fumes, vapours, gases or even micro-organisms. If direct prevention or control of exposure is not possible then respiratory protective equipment (RPE) may be needed; this should always be [...]

H & S Guidance - Residential Care Homes INTRODUCTION The residential care sector caters for a wide range of client needs which involve a variety of workplace activities.  Residential Care Homes are those homes providing round the clock social assistance to children, the aged and the special categories of people, where the provision [...]