LRD guides and handbook September 2014

Health and safety law 2014

Introduction

Introduction [pages 9-11] (1,309 words)

This latest edition of the Labour Research Department’s annual guide to health and safety law, Health and Safety Law 2014, sets out the law using ...
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Chapter 1

1. The structure of health and safety law [ch 1: page 12] (347 words)

} following a public consultation by the HSE, the Deregulation Bill 2013-2014 proposes to exclude all the self-employed from health and safety ...
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The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 [ch 1: pages 12-17] (1,498 words)

Changes to funding regime will make it harder for victims to fund personal injury claims [ch 1: pages 16] (420 words)

Regulations, Approved Codes of Practice and Guidance [ch 1: page 17] (307 words)

Health and safety reviews [ch 1: pages 17-18] (434 words)

The Löfstedt review [ch 1: pages 19-20] (492 words)

Review of all Approved Codes of Practice [ch 1: pages 20-21] (315 words)

New regulations [ch 1: page 21] (44 words)

Directors’ duties [ch 1: pages 21-22] (643 words)

Common law [ch 1: pages 22-23] (514 words)

Chapter 2

2: The health and safety inspection and enforcement regime [ch 2: page 24] (155 words)

} following the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consultation in 2013, the government has changed the scope of the ...
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Enforcement agencies and regulators [ch 2: pages 24-25] (478 words)

Workplace inspections [ch 2: pages 25-26] (152 words)

Enforcement strategy [ch 2: page 26] (158 words)

HSE inspection blitzes [ch 2: pages 26-27] (290 words)

Proactive inspection cuts [ch 2: page 27] (198 words)

Targeted enforcement [ch 2: page 27] (119 words)

The National Enforcement Code [ch 2: page 28] (186 words)

Proposals for regulators’ “growth duty” and revised Regulators’ Code [ch 2: pages 28-29] (277 words)

Paying for enforcement — fee for intervention [ch 2: pages 29-30] (546 words)

Penalties — notices and fines [ch 2: pages 30-31] (476 words)

HSE Enforcement Policy Statement [ch 2: page 31] (104 words)

Investigating work-related deaths [ch 2: page 32] (98 words)

Corporate manslaughter [ch 2: pages 32-35] (1,278 words)

Crown immunity [ch 2: page 35] (107 words)

Chapter 3

3. The management of health and safety at work [ch 3: page 36] (68 words)

} the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 are due to be replaced with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. ...
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The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 [ch 3: page 36] (62 words)

Risk assessments [ch 3: pages 36-38] (731 words)

Union involvement in risk assessment: hazard mapping [ch 3: page 38] (100 words)

HSE guidance on risk assessment [ch 3: page 38] (76 words)

TUC guides [ch 3: page 38] (43 words)

The Management Regulations — how to approach workplace risk [ch 3: pages 38-39] (131 words)

Health and safety arrangements [ch 3: page 39] (63 words)

Health surveillance [ch 3: page 39] (164 words)

Appointment of safety specialists [ch 3: page 40] (71 words)

Procedures for serious and imminent danger [ch 3: page 40] (251 words)

Information and training [ch 3: pages 40-41] (311 words)

Co-operation and co-ordination [ch 3: page 41] (46 words)

Temporary workers [ch 3: pages 41-42] (104 words)

New and expectant mothers [ch 3: page 42] (579 words)

Workplace hazards for pregnant and breastfeeding women [ch 3: page 43] (342 words)

Pregnancy risk assessment — relevant case law [ch 3: page 44] (202 words)

Agency workers [ch 3: pages 44-45] (114 words)

Pregnancy and night work [ch 3: page 45] (51 words)

More information [ch 3: page 45] (38 words)

Young workers [ch 3: pages 45-46] (297 words)

Withdrawal of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Approved Code of Practice [ch 3: page 46] (249 words)

Construction (Design and Management Regulations) 2007 [ch 3: pages 46-47] (362 words)

Chapter 4

4. Safety reps, safety committees and taking action on health and safety [ch 4: page 48] (90 words)

} the government has continued to attack trade union facility time in the public sector, particularly the civil service; ...
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The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 [ch 4: page 48] (118 words)

Appointing safety reps [ch 4: pages 48-49] (286 words)

Guides to safety reps' rights [ch 4: page 49] (76 words)

Safety reps’ functions [ch 4: page 49] (105 words)

Consultation [ch 4: pages 49-50] (258 words)

Facilities for safety reps [ch 4: pages 50-51] (185 words)

Government attacks on facility time [ch 4: page 51] (176 words)

Safety reps’ legal rights to paid time off [ch 4: pages 51-52] (255 words)

Relevant case law [ch 4: pages 52-53] (656 words)

Right to information [ch 4: pages 53-54] (224 words)

Safety committees [ch 4: page 54] (128 words)

Enforcement of the Safety Reps and Safety Committees Regulations [ch 4: pages 54-55] (121 words)

Employee consultation where there is no union recognition [ch 4: page 55] (300 words)

Scope of obligation [ch 4: pages 55-56] (96 words)

The need for stronger regulations [ch 4: page 56] (159 words)

Legal protection for safety reps and other workers who take action [ch 4: page 56] (189 words)

Where dismissal is automatically unfair [ch 4: pages 57-59] (1,140 words)

Reinstatement [ch 4: page 59] (179 words)

Compensation [ch 4: page 59] (93 words)

Whistleblowing — the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 [ch 4: page 60] (323 words)

Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 and whistleblowing [ch 4: pages 60-61] (242 words)

Interim relief [ch 4: pages 61-62] (323 words)

Changes to the tribunal system [ch 4: page 62] (54 words)

Tribunal fees [ch 4: page 62] (293 words)

Acas early conciliation [ch 4: pages 62-63] (113 words)

Anti-blacklisting regulations [ch 4: page 63] (294 words)

Employment tribunal claims based on the Blacklist Regulations [ch 4: page 64] (324 words)

European developments in the anti-blacklisting campaign [ch 4: pages 64-65] (153 words)

The campaign for justice for blacklisted workers [ch 4: pages 65-66] (754 words)

Chapter 5

5. The workplace and the working environment [ch 5: pages 67] (87 words)

} the government plans to make the Prison Service in England and Wales a smoke-free workplace by 2015. ...
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Regulation of minimum standards for the workplace [ch 5: pages 67-68] (342 words)

Stability and solidity [ch 5: page 68] (76 words)

Maintenance [ch 5: page 68] (56 words)

Ventilation [ch 5: pages 68-69] (171 words)

Temperature [ch 5: page 69] (450 words)

Campaign for legally enforceable maximum temperature [ch 5: pages 69-70] (442 words)

The menopause [ch 5: pages 70-72] (222 words)

Lighting [ch 5: page 72] (113 words)

Cleanliness [ch 5: page 72] (34 words)

Space [ch 5: page 72] (148 words)

Workstations and seating [ch 5: pages 72-73] (91 words)

Condition of floors [ch 5: page 73] (71 words)

Falls or falling objects [ch 5: page 73] (59 words)

Transparent surfaces and windows [ch 5: page 73] (65 words)

Doors and gates [ch 5: page 73] (26 words)

Organisation of traffic routes [ch 5: page 73] (62 words)

Escalators and moving walkways [ch 5: page 73] (29 words)

Sanitary, washing and drinking facilities [ch 5: page 74] (193 words)

Minimum requirements for toilets and wash stations [ch 5: page 74] (92 words)

TUC campaign — Give us a (Loo) Break [ch 5: pages 74-75] (264 words)

Clothing and changing [ch 5: page 75] (243 words)

Rest and eating facilities [ch 5: pages 75-76] (166 words)

Disabled workers [ch 5: page 76] (46 words)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding [ch 5: page 76] (216 words)

Smoking at work [ch 5: pages 76-77] (141 words)

Premises and enforcement [ch 5: page 77] (59 words)

Exemptions [ch 5: page 77] (269 words)

Vehicles [ch 5: page 78] (76 words)

Signs [ch 5: page 78] (55 words)

Evaluating the health effects of the ban [ch 5: page 78] (98 words)

Call for prisons to be Smokefree workplaces [ch 5: page 78] (221 words)

Smoking shelters — additional guidance [ch 5: page 79] (122 words)

Driving at work [ch 5: pages 79-80] (338 words)

Mobile phones [ch 5: pages 80-81] (407 words)

New government drug-driving limits [ch 5: page 81] (119 words)

European Parliament’s approval for safer lorry designs [ch 5: page 81] (110 words)

Driving vision [ch 5: pages 81-82] (248 words)

Epilepsy and driving vision medical standards [ch 5: page 82] (71 words)

Driving with diabetes [ch 5: page 82] (100 words)

Legislation covering particular industries [ch 5: pages 82-83] (314 words)

Chapter 6

6. Hazardous substances [ch 6: page 84] (177 words)

} the European Commission granted the UK an exemption from the application of the Biocidal Products Regulations 2001 in February 2014, allowing the ...
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Control of substances hazardous to health [ch 6: pages 84-87] (1,374 words)

Revision of COSHH Approved Code of Practice [ch 6: pages 87-88] (121 words)

Asthma Code of Practice and guidance [ch 6: page 88] (197 words)

Evidence of occupational asthma [ch 6: page 88] (94 words)

Dust [ch 6: page 89] (274 words)

Workplace Exposure Limits [ch 6: page 90] (131 words)

Legionnaires’ disease [ch 6: pages 89-91] (459 words)

Needlestick or sharps injuries [ch 6: page 91] (162 words)

Dermatitis and other skin conditions [ch 6: pages 92-93] (476 words)

Latex allergy [ch 6: page 93] (66 words)

Chemicals information and packaging [ch 6: page 93] (143 words)

Replacement of the CHIP Regulations with the CLP Regulation [ch 6: page 94] (311 words)

European chemicals strategy (REACH) [ch 6: pages 94-95] (486 words)

Safety Data Sheets [ch 6: page 96] (122 words)

Major accident hazards [ch 6: pages 96-97] (427 words)

A new Directive (Seveso lll) [ch 6: pages 97-98] (179 words)

Buncefield explosion report [ch 6: page 98] (185 words)

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 [ch 6: pages 98-99] (495 words)

Asbestos [ch 6: page 100] (259 words)

The regulatory regime for controlling risks from asbestos [ch 6: pages 100-101] (212 words)

The duty to manage asbestos [ch 6: pages 101-102] (320 words)

Changes to asbestos ACOP [ch 6: page 102] (124 words)

Compensation and better treatment for asbestos-related diseases [ch 6: page 102] (164 words)

New support scheme for mesothelioma victims criticised [ch 6: pages 102-104] (609 words)

Pleural plaques [ch 6: page 104] (319 words)

Recovery of medical costs [ch 6: pages 104-106] (219 words)

Asbestos-related litigation [ch 6: pages 105] (608 words)

Asbestos in schools [ch 6: page 106] (255 words)

Europe calls for removal of asbestos from public buildings [ch 6: pages 106-107] (106 words)

Research link between cardiovascular disease and asbestos [ch 6: page 107] (60 words)

Lead [ch 6: pages 107-109] (863 words)

Transport of dangerous goods [ch 6: page 109] (91 words)

Pesticides and biocides [ch 6: pages 109-110] (266 words)

Genetically Modified Organisms [ch 6: pages 110-111] (305 words)

Chapter 7

7. Equipment at Work [ch 7: pages 112] (52 words)

} some work equipment ACOPs are due to be revised by the end of 2014, following a recommendation in the Löfstedt review; ...
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Display screen equipment [ch 7: pages 112-114] (736 words)

Breaks for DSE users [ch 7: page 114] (266 words)

Rest breaks and monotonous work [ch 7: page 114] (93 words)

Machinery and other equipment [ch 7: pages 115-117] (938 words)

Work equipment and the Löfstedt review [ch 7: page 117] (361 words)

Work at height [ch 7: pages 117-118] (273 words)

Work at Height Regulations and the Löfstedt review [ch 7: pages 118-119] (306 words)

The Ladder Exchange [ch 7: page 119] (92 words)

Personal protective equipment [ch 7: pages 119-121] (747 words)

Agency workers and PPE [ch 7: page 121] (68 words)

Unions highlight PPE problems [ch 7: pages 121-122] (347 words)

Ill-fitting PPE [ch 7: page 122] (275 words)

TUC survey reveals workers forced to pay for PPE [ch 7: pages 122-123] (206 words)

TUC footwear guidance [ch 7: page 123] (49 words)

Chapter 8

8. Physical hazards at work [ch 8: page 124] (198 words)

} the European Commission is now expected to bring forward a European Recommendation on Musculoskeletal Disorders rather than a new Directive. This ...
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Manual handling [ch 8: page 124] (67 words)

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations [ch 8: pages 124-125] (405 words)

Prolonged standing at work [ch 8: pages 125-126] (113 words)

European proposal on musculoskeletal disorders [ch 8: page 126] (224 words)

HSE MSD Toolkit [ch 8: page 126] (64 words)

The Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC tool) [ch 8: pages 126-127 (201 words)

The Assessment of Repetitive Tasks (ART) Tool [ch 8: page 127] (247 words)

The Push/Pull Tool [ch 8: pages 127-129] (126 words)

Musculoskeletal disorders support needed [ch 8: page 129] (292 words)

Construction (Head Protection) Regulations scrapped [ch 8: page 128] (350 words)

Fire [ch 8: page 130] (203 words)

General fire precautions [ch 8: page 130] (171 words)

Risk assessment [ch 8: page 131] (77 words)

Preventive and protection measures [ch 8: pages 131-132] (336 words)

Information and training [ch 8: page 132] (118 words)

Enforcement [ch 8: page 132] (142 words)

Fire safety guidance [ch 8: page 132] (42 words)

Noise [ch 8: page 133] (173 words)

Noise levels [ch 8: pages 133-134] (215 words)

Risk assessment [ch 8: page 134] (279 words)

Controlling noise [ch 8: pages 134-135] (219 words)

Hearing protection [ch 8: pages 135-136] (237 words)

Information and training [ch 8: page 136] (287 words)

European Guidance [ch 8: pages 136-137] (95 words)

HSE Guidance on noise (89 words)

Voice damage [ch 8: page 137] (98 words)

Research highlights risk of voice damage in call centres [ch 8: page 137] (82 words)

Vibration [ch 8: pages 137-139] (546 words)

Radiation [ch 8: pages 139-140] (447 words)

Electromagnetic fields [ch 8: page 140] (99 words)

New directive on workers’ exposure to electromagnetic fields [ch 8: pages 140-141] (245 words)

Optical radiation [ch 8: pages 141-142] (386 words)

Sunlight [ch 8: page 142] (41 words)

Electricity [ch 8: pages 142-143] (364 words)

Electricity at work and the Löfstedt review [ch 8: page 143] (176 words)

Gas [ch 8: page 144] (285 words)

Gas safety and the Löfstedt review [ch 8: pages 144-145] (322 words)

Petrol [ch 8: pages 145-146] (236 words)

Chapter 9

9. Hours of work [ch 9: page 147] (66 words)

} the European Commission has voted to introduce new European flight time restrictions affecting aircraft staff; ...
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General background — the Working Time Directive [ch 9: page 147] (62 words)

Core rights [ch 9: page 147] (66 words)

Working time under the WTR Regulations [ch 9: page 147] (98 words)

Time spent “on-call” [ch 9: page 148] (400 words)

Unmeasured time [ch 9: page 148] (59 words)

Who the Working Time Regulations apply to [ch 9: page 149] (152 words)

Mobile workers [ch 9: pages 149-150] (713 words)

Drivers’ working hours [ch 9: pages 150-151] (241 words)

Exclusions [ch 9: pages 151-152] (629 words)

The maximum working week [ch 9: page 152] (99 words)

The UK’s opt-out [ch 9: page 153] (136 words)

Work Your Proper Hours Day [ch 9: page 153] (199 words)

The 48-hour week and work-related stress [ch 9: pages 153-154] (344 words)

European-level negotiations on the 48-hour week [ch 9: pages 154-155] (350 words)

Young workers [ch 9: page 156] (88 words)

Night work [ch 9: page 156] (207 words)

Night work and young workers [ch 9: page 156] (35 words)

Health assessments [ch 9: pages 156-157] (177 words)

Research links shift work with breast cancer [ch 9: page 157] (273 words)

Health and safety guidance [ch 9: page 157] (41 words)

Rest [ch 9: page 158] (38 words)

Weekly rest [ch 9: page 158] (73 words)

Rest breaks [ch 9: pages 158-159] (412 words)

Shift workers [ch 9: page 159] (70 words)

Compensatory rest [ch 9: page 159] (191 words)

Holidays [ch 9: pages 159-160] (269 words)

Holiday entitlement [ch 9: page 160] (128 words)

Payment for holidays [ch 9: pages 160-161] (417 words)

Bank holidays [ch 9: page 161] (49 words)

Timing of holidays [ch 9: pages 161-162] (379 words)

Offshore oil workers [ch 9: page 162] (167 words)

Carrying unused leave forward into a subsequent leave year [ch 9: pages 162-163] (132 words)

Pay in lieu of annual leave [ch 9: page 163] (55 words)

Sick leave and holiday [ch 9: pages 163-164] (527 words)

Consultation — working time and annual leave [ch 9: page 164] (129 words)

Rolled-up holiday pay [ch 9: pages 164-165] (333 words)

Agency workers’ enhanced rights [ch 9: page 165] (104 words)

Collective and workforce agreements [ch 9: page 165] (55 words)

Enforcement [ch 9: pages 165-166] (212 words)

Helplines (58 words)

Protection against detrimental treatment [ch 9: page 166] (177 words)

Chapter 10

10. Occupational health, information and reporting [ch 10: pages 167] (98 words)

} from 1 October 2013, the new Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), introduced some new categories of ...
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Recording and reporting accidents [ch 10: page 167] (143 words)

What is reportable under RIDDOR? [ch 10: pages 167-169] (855 words)

The accident book [ch 10: page 170] (336 words)

Accident investigation [ch 10: pages 170-171] (198 words)

The Employment Practices Data Protection Code [ch 10: pages 171-172] (363 words)

Ban on pre-employment health checks [ch 10: page 172] (138 words)

Information on work-related deaths [ch 10: pages 172-173] (137 words)

HSE statistics on work-related deaths mask true picture [ch 10: pages 173-174] (412 words)

First aid [ch 10: page 174] (96 words)

First aid regulation and the Löfstedt review [ch 10: pages 174-176] (874 words)

Occupational health [ch 10: pages 176-177] (338 words)

NHS Occupational health services [ch 10: page 177] (84 words)

New Health and Work Service [ch 10: pages 178-179] (523 words)

Fit notes [ch 10: pages 179-180] (615 words)

Returning to work following long-term sickness absence [ch 10: page 181] (173 words)

Chapter 11

11: Stress, bullying and violence [ch 11: page 182] (118 words)

} Unite members took strike action on bullying this year and the Federation of Entertainment Unions called for action to tackle bullying, harassment ...
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The extent of the problem — recent evidence [ch 11: page 182] (301 words)

General duties [ch 11: page 183] (115 words)

Stress [ch 11: page 183] (367 words)

Providing a counselling service [ch 11: page 183-184] (51 words)

Exceeding the 48-hour week [ch 11: page 184] (59 words)

Management standards [ch 11: page 184] (86 words)

How effective are the Management Standards? [ch 11: pages 184-185] (38 words)

Mental health at work and collective responses [ch 11: page 185] (348 words)

Mental health at work and discrimination [ch 11: pages 185-186] (211 words)

More information (38 words)

Bullying and harassment [ch 11: page 186] (119 words)

Harassment by third parties [ch 11: pages 186-187] (197 words)

Practical steps to combat bullying [ch 11: page 187] (84 words)

Constructive dismissal [ch 11: pages 187-188] (284 words)

Union action against bullying [ch 11: pages 188-189] (388 words)

Protection from Harassment Act 1997 [ch 11: page 189] (337 words)

Violence [ch 11: pages 189-190] (278 words)

Employer criminal liability [ch 11: pages 190-191] (742 words)

Cuts to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS) [ch 11: page 192] (101 words)

Dangerous dogs legislation [ch 11: page 192] (281 words)

New sentencing guidelines [ch 11: pages 192-193] (114 words)

Combating violence against retail workers [ch 11: pages 193-194] (444 words)

More information [ch 11: page 194] (70 words)

Chapter 12

12. Exempting the self-employed from health and safety law [ch 12: pages 195-197] (1,089 words)

The government has decided to scrap health and safety rules for 4.3 million self-employed people from health and safety regulation. ...
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False self-employment and health and safety in construction [ch 12: pages 198-201] (958 words)

Further information

Further information [ch 11: pages 202-203] (507 words)

All regulations made since 1988 can be downloaded from the website at: www.legislation.gov.uk. ...
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