Importance of Health and Safety in the Workplace

Running head: SAFETY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT
Safety Health and Environment Management

SAFETY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT 1
Introduction
Health and safety requirements are outlined by the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1874. In a
century, various laws have been introduced for the worker's safety. Many of these acts have
been introduced for the workplace safety that protects the public. The workplace health and
safety are the major issues in the companies these days. The employers are focussed to
provide health and safety to their employees. There are certain legal regulations on the
employers to provide a healthy and safe environment to their employees. The legal
requirements for employers to ensure that their employees have access to health surveillance
will be discussed in this report. The discussion will be based on that why health and safety is
an important factor for the organisation. The legal, financial, moral and reputational reasons
will be discussed and why these factors become important for the employers. The employer
who is in charge of a workplace or an area where the public is present has the responsibility
to follow health and safety legal requirements.
Legal Requirements
There are various legal requirements in relation to the health of employees. The various laws
employers have to comply while operating the business in the UK and other countries
(Ganster and Schaubroeck, 2009).
Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974
This act has been enacted by the government of UK to provide safety, health and welfare of
the employees who work in a workplace. It states that the practicability of the workplace
should be safe and shall be risk-free. There must be proper supervision of the employers over
the employees. This act states that employees must have access to provide with safety and
health. The company should have provided with basic needs that must be provided to safety
and health issues. If the employer does not abide by laws, which have been stated in the Act
can give rise to criminal prosecution (Ganster and Schaubroeck, 2009).
Factories Act, 1961
The factories act has been enacted by the parliament of the United Kingdom. This act has its
own importance in relation to the industrial hazards for example industrial noise that has an
effect on the employees (Ameri, et al, 2018).

SAFETY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT 2
.
In Baker v Quantum clothing, Meridian Ltd and Pretty Polly Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 499
case, two employees have become deaf and the liability has been arising on the employer. It
is because noise in the workplace is above the minimum level as stated in the Act. If the
employee has been exposed to noise of 85 dB(A) suffers deafness. The noise was above this
level and therefore the employee has been suffered from deafness (Ameri, et al, 2018).
Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008
This act is an act that has been enacted by the government of the United Kingdom. This act
has been enacted to enforce the maximum penalties on the employer for the breach of duties.
The employer has to provide safety and health to the employees. The employer if failed it has
led to the damages to employees than employer will be liable for the damages (Ganster and
Schaubroeck, 2009).
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963
This act has been established by the parliament of the United Kingdom that has been
established to provide the extended protection that has been given in the Factories Act, 1962.
The act states that the breach of the residual provisions that is still a crime that is punishable
under the summary conviction. The damage that has caused to the employee under this act
will lead to a civil liability on the employer. This act includes the overcrowding, ventilation,
cleanliness, temperature, lighting, sanitary conveniences, eating facilities, washing facilities
(Ganster and Schaubroeck, 2009).
Countries other than UK laws for the employee’s health
In Singapore, there are various laws such as Workplace Safety and Health Act 2009 that are
enacted by the government of Singapore. The act has been introduced some key principles
that include in the reduction of risk at source, increased ownership of occupational safety and
health of employees standards and health. This act provides the safety that covers both
physical and physiological health. It also includes the accidents that occur while doing the job
in the workplace (Ganster and Schaubroeck, 2009).
In USA there have been various laws that have been established for the employees are the
reason for the establishment of the laws that is required to be followed by the employer. The
Occupational Safety & Health Act 1970 has been introduced by the government of the USA
that covers both private and public employees. This Act has been introduced to introduce a