The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974

The management of health and safety at work regulations 1992

This act was brought into place to make further provision for securing the health, safety and welfare of people at work to protect others against risks to health or safety in connection with the activities of people at work. This law had an impact because workplaces were a lot cleaner and healthier. It also allowed the workplace to be safer and organised because equipment would have to be put away safely.

These regulations deal with physical conditions in the workplace and require employers to meet minimum standards in relation to a wide range of matters, which include: Maintenance of buildings and equipment, Lighting, Provision of drinking water, Temperature, Rest facilities, Ventilation, Toilet facilities, First aid.

Work Place Regulations 1992

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 cover a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare issues and apply to most workplaces (with the exception of those workplaces involving construction work on construction sites, those in or on a ship, or those below ground at a mine). For the first time they establish a consistent set of standards for most workplaces including schools, colleges and universities. They replace earlier legislation which applied only to factories or offices and introduce some new elements, including requirements relating to windows and rest facilities (in particular dealing with provisions for non-smokers and pregnant and nursing

Control of substances hazardous to health 1994

Every employer shall ensure that the exposure of his employees to substances hazardous to health is either prevented or, where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled. The prevention of exposure of employees to a substance hazardous to health, shall be secured by measures other than the provision of personal protective equipment.

Personal protective equipment 1992

PPE is defined in the Regulations as all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety, e.g. safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses.

Fire precautions (amendment) 1999

This Order replaced the previous fire safety legislation and any other fire certificate issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1972. If a fire certificate has been issued in respect of your working premises or the premises were built to recent building regulations, as long as you have made no material alterations (such as extensions) and all the physical fire precautions have been properly maintained.

The health and safety display screen equipment 1992

Where an employee is a user, as defined (in principle of an operator who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of the normal work), of display screen equipment. The work station has to be assessed with regard to the health and safety of the user. The findings of the assessment should be used to reduce the risks identified.

The effects these regulations have had on the public services

The Health and Safety Act had an effect on the public services are that work places are organised and now cleaner and healthier environments. The Management of Health and Safety Act had an effect as disabled people were given access to the workplace such as lifts and ramps etc. also pregnant women were now given maternity leave. The Workplace Regulations Act had an effect as it entitled employees to have breaks/ rest periods during work so that they could work positively throughout the day. The Control of Hazardous Substances Act had an effect because when the substances are spilled, they now have to be cleaned up immediately to prevent an accident. The Personal equipment Act had an effect as it provides the workers the protective equipment they require to work effectively. The Fire Precautions act had an effect as workplaces were now fire safe and had the equipment required to survive if a fire occurred