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Identify Legislation Relating to Health and Safety

Published - 2022-12-08 Health
Legislation Health and Safety

 

There are multiple laws that have been passed in regard to health and safety, in our country. The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, which outlines the broad obligations of employers and employees to safeguard individuals from injury at work, is one of the most significant. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1998 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999 are two further important pieces of law.

More often than not, the main goal of having these legislation standards is that they ensure that individuals are safe while at work. Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to follow these rules, and employers have a responsibility to make sure that their staff members are adequately taught and aware of how to perform their jobs safely so that they don't endanger patients.

The following specific laws pertaining to health and safety in a care setting:

  • Children and Young Persons Act of 1933 - this law made it illegal for children under the age of eight to work, but it permits them to participate in performances, displays, or other forms of entertainment as long as certain requirements are followed.
     
  • The Data Protection Act of 1998 is a piece of legislation that tries to safeguard the personal data of persons who are employed or looking for jobs. Limiting the situations under which employers can access, use, and disclose personal data about their employees, including health records, prevents discrimination.
     
  • The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999 offer businesses and self-employed individuals duty of care guidelines that they must abide by. The declarations outline the procedures that must be followed in order to recognize and manage workplace hazards, including those that could endanger one's health and safety.
     
  • The National Minimum Wage Act of 1998 was passed with the intention of establishing minimum rates of pay per hour for the majority of workers who are over the age of 18, including those who are employed as health support personnel.
     
  • The Pensions Act of 1995 outlines when individuals under 75 who do not typically reside in England and Wales must be registered automatically in a pension plan and the type of pension they must receive. Additionally, it mandates that firms with at least five workers set up automatic enrolment into a workplace pension plan and pay employee payments.
     
  • According to The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1998, employers are required to make sure that any tools, machines, or vehicles they give their employees comply with safety regulations while still enabling them to do their jobs effectively and safely.
     
  • The Registered Designs Act of 1949 lays forth the guidelines for registered designs' protection, which are given legal protection to ensure that products' reputations are not tarnished. Additionally, it enables designers to make sure that new goods do not violate any registered or pending patents.
     
  • The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 mandate that businesses notify their enforcement authority of any workplace accidents, occupational ailments, dangerous occurrences, or specific work-related diseases.
     
  • The Working Time Regulations of 1998 set minimum daily and weekly rest requirements as well as the number of hours that workers are permitted to work each week. Additionally, they specify that young people cannot work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week, as well as laws regarding nighttime employment.
     

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