LRD guides and handbook August 2020

Health and Safety Law 2020

Chapter 4

The principles of prevention

[ch 4: page 66]

Regulation 4 of the Management Regulations requires employers to implement protective and preventative occupational safety measures by following these principles which set out a hierarchy of prevention and control:

• avoid risks altogether;

• evaluate any risks that cannot be avoided;

• combat risks at source;

• adapt the work to the individual, particularly with regard to workplace design, the choice of work equipment and working and production methods, with a view to alleviating monotonous work and work at a predetermined work-rate;

• adapt to technical progress;

• replace dangerous work with safe or safer alternatives;

• develop a coherent overall prevention policy covering technology, work organisation, working conditions, social relationships and the working environment;

• prioritise collective over individual protective measures; and

• give workers appropriate instructions.