Summary of The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

Occupational noise exposure remains a persistent risk factor that could lead to early hearing loss or permanent tinnitus, particularly where exposure is cumulative or peak-impact based. As a health and safety issue, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations (2005) seek to outline employers’ responsibilities when noise is a workplace hazard.

Health and safety risk assessment: what it is and why you need one

Every employer is responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. To this end, you must consider all possible dangers they may encounter. Then, you must identify and implement safety measures that should help protect your workers. This process of identifying and reducing or eliminating risk is known as health and safety risk assessment.

Our guide to health and safety in the aviation industry

Working in the aviation industry means that employees are protected by the same regulations as other employees, with some additional industry-specific rules that require special attention. Our guide to aviation health and safety provides a broad outline of the regulations that apply, with a particular focus on ground-based staff and their health and safety needs. These are the people most airline passengers only see in passing, if at all, but they are the backbone of any aviation concern.

A summary of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act of 1974 sets out the principles employers must follow to keep their workers safe. Fleshing out its framework, various sets of regulations specify how certain risks should be managed. This article summarises the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 key points and provides examples of some of the regulations that flow from it.

Noise-induced hearing loss: what it is and how to prevent it

It’s temporary or permanent damage to the tiny hairs in our inner ears that are meant to pick up sound vibrations and relay them to the brain for interpretation. The louder the sound, the more the damage – but prolonged exposure to noise levels most of us are familiar with can also cause permanent hearing loss.

Understanding hazardous area classification

Although every responsible business works to eliminate risk, there are some industries where dangers are ever-present. Workplaces in which explosive atmospheres occur are among the most challenging of these. They include the oil and gas industry, certain chemical industries, and even the food and beverage industry. Hazardous area classification indicates workplace areas where there’s a risk of explosion from flammable gases, vapours, or dust.

How to ensure a safe working environment

As an employer, you’re committed to keeping your people as safe as possible during their working hours. Nothing is 100 percent foolproof and unexpected accidents can still happen. But, you can go the extra mile to keep the odds low, and you can prepare for emergencies so that, if the worst were to happen, responses are as quick and effective as possible. Of course, maintaining a safe working environment is a legal obligation, so we’ll look at what the law says since it offers a great framework for addressing workplace risks.

A Guide to the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR)

DSEAR regulations require employers and self-employed contractors to identify risks presented by explosive or flammable substances in the workplace. They must take steps to safeguard workers against the hazards they present. Compliance with Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations is a legal requirement. This article summarises the regulations but if they apply to you, it would be advisable to review them in detail.

Healthcare worker safety and how body worn cameras can help

For the average worker, the right to be protected against verbal or physical violence at work is a basic expectation. For nurses, doctors, and even receptionists working in healthcare, however, facing abuse and danger at work is increasingly the rule rather than the exception. The conclusion that healthcare staff have become increasingly unsafe in the workplace is an unavoidable one, and many healthcare providers, both in the UK and around the world, are hoping that body worn cameras can help.

Duty of Care: What it is and the responsibilities of employers

There are several contexts in which the term “duty of care” may be used. For example, road users must exercise their duty of care to ensure that their actions don’t harm others. However, in this article, we’ll consider employers’ duty of care. What it means in practice depends on the nature of the work your business and its employees do, but no business is exempt from taking it into account.