unit 27 p1 SEND MISS!!

UNIT 27 P1

Explain the legal requirements and regulations for ensuring the health, safety and security of those employed in business.

›http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/Healthandsafetylawcontroltherisk.aspx

›http://www.hse.gov.uk/

›http://jcoss.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/JCoSS-Health-Safety-Policy-Sept-15.pdf

I am the Health and Safety Officer at JCoSS for the Science department. My name is Ruby and I am going to report to you the procedures and legal requirements taken within the Science department to ensure the classrooms, the office, staff, students etc. In the past, JCoSS have applied their health and safety regulations effectively however, now staff have more rights and responsibilities. Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety procedures are followed in the workplace.

Legalisation is used to keep employees in the workplace safe and protect their rights they have as employees within a business. Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety procedures are followed in the workplace. Employees now a days have more and more rights and responsibilities and laws have been put into place to ensure both the employees and employers are working together to make sure everyone within the science department is safe.

Some of an employers duties are that; they have to maintain safe areas for employees to work in, arrange for appropriate people to carry out equipment such as tables, chairs, substances because teachers legally are not allowed to do this incase they hurt themselves, they have to provide information, training and supervision relating to health and safety. On the other hand, some of an employees duties are that they have to; take care of their own health and safety when working and others who may be affected by their acts at work, cooperate with their employer to ensure legal requirements have been followed. 

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1974

The aim of this law is to help reduce the harm of staff in the science department, by assessing potential risks and creating action plans and steps to follow for potential emergencies that could occur in the business. It will protect staff in the science department but also will protect people not working by people who are working. There are a lot of potential hazards that could occur inside the science department because they use heavy and fragile equipment that is extremely expensive to obtain and to replace therefore this needs to be handled correctly. JCoSS follow this act by ensuring all staff in the science department have the right training and knowledge of how to avoid and handle potential accidents. The science department also complete risk assessments after an accident occurs as this is following the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. The science department use substances that can be explosive and dangerous which need to be handled and used in a safe manner with a specialist technician to transport the chemicals to the classrooms and back to the offices where they are kept. JCoSS make sure they get special technicians in to handle the chemicals to ensure they are providing safety for themselves.The science teachers must complete and review risk assessments at given times and make appropriate modifications even if they are small changes because this is significant to health and safety in a business because even the smallest change can cause a problem and a risk to the staff. The risk assessment should include a few essential things in it such as; hazards being identified, workers been identified, the seriousness of the risk, recordings of the findings. The act states that if the business employs 5 or more people, then they must complete a written health and safety policy which has 3 parts to it. One includes the aims and objectives for what will be achieved in terms of the health and safety in the science department. Another part is an organisational chat which shows the people responsible for health and safety in the school, which is me and a system which contains all the necessary and relevant procedures that connect with the relevant laws and regulations put in place that affect the school as a whole along with the science department specifically. If staff and the workers are below the legal age, then the risk assessment needs to be completed with extra care because although all risk assessments are important, children are considered especially important. One thing that is provided for the staff in the science department, is by having training so that hazards can be avoided and identifying any significant hazards.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

This is the most important piece of legalisation and this act is an enabling act which means that other legislation can be added to it without having to change the act itself. This act has 5 main acts which are; to protect people at the workplace, to protect people who aren't in the workplace from those who are, to ensure all explosives are transported handled and stored safely, to replace existing safety legalisation and lastly to remain up to date. This law states that if there are more than 5 people in the business, which there are in the Science department, therefore JCoSS's science department must have a written Health and Safety policy with 3 parts in it. Those 3 parts consist of the aims and objectives of what needs to be achieved for Health and Safety for JCoSS. Secondly, an organisational chat to show who is responsible for Health and Safety in the business which is me, the head of Health and Safety. The third one is a system that contains necessary procedures for a business with relevant laws affecting JCoSS e.g. a risk assessment. The Health and Safety Act 2008 increased the power of legalisation by imposing tougher sentences on those staff who fail to follow the 1974 Act which is a good thing because it will stop people not following the 1974 Act in the first place, there are punishments for braking this law such as going to prison. At JCoSS, all staff have a responsibility to take reasonable care for the health and safety for themselves and other people in undertaking the work. Also they comply with JCoSS's health and safety policy and procedures at all times. The staff inside the science department at JCOSS have to report accidents and incidents in line with the reporting procedure. The staff in the science department have to co-operate with JCoSS's management team on all matters relating to health and safety. In a case of an emergency, the science department staff will have to immediately report the hazard to their manager who is Mr Moriarty. They should ensure they only use the equipment and substances that are appropriate for the science department.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 

This act applies to all workplaces except transport and construction sites away from main buildings which include e.g. caves, mines, tunnels, forest industries. All the same regulations applies to employers or the person who is in control and in charge of the business premises or if they are self employed then themselves. The main aim of the act is to ensure basic welfare is kept. This act is broken down into 2 areas; the working environment and facilities. In the working environment this includes regulations to do with ventilation and the science department must ensure they have an effective supply of fresh air. Areas in the classrooms or in the office, where there is a risk of falling objects, must be restricted and not accessible to ensure safety. All the windows and doors in the science department and classrooms at JCoSS get cleaned effectively and often to ensure they are following the act and ensuring hygiene is met. JCoSS's science department ensures they meet this law by having 3 massive windows in each classroom along with a door. All their fragile glass tubes, containers, beakers etc are kept in a cabinet which has a layer of glass over it so that they are stored well away from the children and won't fall. To do with the facilities, there must be appropriate sanitisers in the science departments which should be stored well and are kept clean at all times in order for the staff to use. JCoSS keep a sink on each table in the classroom, along with a sink at the front of the classroom and another by the side of the classroom. Next to each sink their soap, hand sanitiser and paper towels to ensure they are meeting the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. An example of this is after a science practical has happened where the teacher had to demonstrate boiling carbon oxide and some or the substance went on their hand. Water or any liquid is forbidden to drink in the science classrooms because it can be hazardous if spilt near a substance of an electricity socket. However, drinking water out of a sink should be provided in the classrooms and offices at all times for use outside of the room. Locations for change of clothing should be provided where staff can change into their e.g. lab coats, googles and take them off when they are finished. In JCoSS's science department they have a small room in-between two science classrooms where their is an area to change clothing or put/ take off protective clothing after doing a practical. An example of how the science department cater for pregnant employees is by having chairs with backrests on them to give them accessibility to the classroom yet giving them comfort so that they are able to participate also.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995

Over 1.6 million accidents happen to people at work every year, this results in 200 people dead every year due to this. This act ensures all staff report any incidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences that happen within the science department under the regulations of the act. JCoSS keep soap and hand sanitisers next to each sink in each classroom to prevent germs or any diseases being caught. This information is then reported to the RIDDOR Authority to investigate into them in more detail. The information staff within the science department would have to include in the report to the RIDDOR Authority would include injuries resulting in death, minor injuries, work related diseases, injuries where the employee is away from work or unable to perform activities for more than 3 consecutive days. JCoSS have an on-site medical room which has the latest first aid kit and other appropriate equipment needed in case of a potential injury or illness, however if they feel it is serious or needs further action they will fill out a risk assessment immediately and refer them to the hospital or where necessary.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994

The science department comprise a huge collection of different substances and chemicals that are used for experiments in class etc. This act is also know as the COSHH act which was amended in 1999. Within the science department, there are various ways employees can get harmed or exposes to harmful chemicals and substances which is why this act was put in place to ensure they are used, handles and stored safely. JCoSS train their staff to ensure they are aware of the procedures of handling substances. However, JCoSS have specialist technicians who measure out the substances when practicals happen, handle them and transport them to and form the classrooms to ensure they are handles safely and no one is at risk. The act concerns information on the products and work practises associated with the substances hazardous to health capable of causing bad health effects or disease. They are defined as; toxic, harmful and corrosive, those where exposure is limited, significant amounts of dust, biological agents capable of causing an infection, allergies, poisoning or other health risks. This act refers to most chemicals yet it also includes fumes, just, vapours, gases or germs which are biological agents. The employees in the science department at JCoSS need to ensure that any risk is identified through using a risk assessment so provisions are made to eradicate or control the risk. 

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

This act is put in place and should be followed in order for electrical systems and equipment to be constructed in a safe way to prevent danger. All electrical equipment at JCoSS in the science department are tested before being used by employees or placed in the science department and they need to be frequently checked and monitored. If there is any damaged or pieces of electrical equipment that needs to be thrown or replaced, then this should be taken care of to prevent an accident or injury happening within the science department. Around 1000 accidents happen per year from shocks or burns in the workplace which is why this act is extremely important to follow carefully and successfully. In the classrooms, the plug sockets are located on the side tables near the windows away from the tables where the practical work take place in order to ensure safety. Only the teacher or a specialist technician are allowed to use the electricity sockets in the classrooms in order to keep this act and provide reassurance that none is going to get an electric shock or cause themselves an injury. Staff should always wear gloves and googles whenever touching or assessing substances to prevent an accident.

The Display Screens Equipment Regulations 1992 (DSE)

Employees working in the science department at JCoSS must have their computers adjusted suitable for them as if they aren't they can cause health issues including muscular strain, mental stress, eye problems etc. These all can be mangled by having well designed office equipment and furniture specifically for each employee. An example of this is if a teacher in the science department has a broken leg, their chair will need to be adjusted to have a lower chair that they can easily get access to and from and their computer screen will have to be lowered in line with their eyes to prevent eye straining. JCoSS ensure their staff in the science department have regular breaks away from their computer screens to ensure they don't get eye problems or strain their eyes from looking at their screens for a long period of time. This ensures safety in the science department because according to the act, the Health and Safety Officers have to provide staff with; suitable access to work stations, ensuring work stations meet minimum requirements, ensuring staff have breaks and frequent rests from screen use, provide users with eyesight tests and treatment if necessary, explained health and safety aspects. 

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

Especially the science department, as they hold a huge range of chemicals/substances and fragile equipment, need to be careful when handling, using and storing all the equipment because accidents can happen and they could result in deaths and JCoSS being sued. In the science department they have specialist technicians who handle and store the chemicals to ensure they are kept secured well and a safe amount is used. 25% of injuries are due to lifting and carrying equipment incorrectly. JCoSS have a special bin for damaged or broken equipment rather than using the same bin for rubbish to ensure safety in the classroom and department. Every time something is smashed or broken, JCoSS science department have to fill out a form stating what was broken or damaged and they replace it.The science department prevent accidents from handling equipment by not touching any equipment at all because JCoSS  staff are not forbidden to handle equipment themselves because if a employee got hurt then they could sue JCoSS, so to prevent this they have a specialist Health and Safety team who are called when something needs moved or rearranged. Risk assessments should be carried out and suitable guidance is put in place to support any accidents from occurring which minimises risks. Training is provided when necessary for science teachers so that they are aware of when and when they cant handle and move specific equipment.