Health and Safety Law IT Organisations

1. Health and Safety LawIT Organisations Ben Strange, Chris Lee and Tom Middleton

2. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 • “All workers have a right to work in places where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Health and safety is about stopping you getting hurt at work or ill through work. Your employer is responsible for health and safety, but you must help” http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/law.pdf

3. The Employers Responsibility

4. The Employees Responsibility http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/law.pdf

5. Relevant Regulations and Acts Applicable to IT Organisations • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health • Electricity at Work Regulation 1989 • RIDDOR • Display Screen Equipment

6. COSHH Control of substances that are hazardous to health (COSHH) is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health. COSHH covers: chemicals, products containing chemicals, fumes, dusts, vapours, mists and gases, and biological agents (germs). If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols then it is classed as a hazardous substance. COSHH also covers germs that cause diseases such as leptospirosis or legionnaires' disease: and germs used in laboratories. COSHH does not cover: lead, asbestos or radioactive substancesbecause these have their own specific regulations.

7. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to health (COSHH) Regulations, your employer has a duty to protect their employees from exposure. This means employers must assess the risks associated with the use of chemicals, solvents and other agents, and take all necessary steps to prevent exposure to risks. This means following a hierarchy of control measures:

8. This means following a hierarchy of control measures: 1/ Eliminate the chemical, for example by changing the work process. 2/ Substitute the chemical for a safer one. 3/ Protect you from exposure to it by enclosing the process. 4/ Provide adequate ventilation. 5/ Only then, as a last resort, should your employer rely on personal protective equipment to prevent exposure (such as gloves and facemasks) and ensure their proper use. Where necessary your employer must introduce a system of health surveillance

9. Personal protective equipment (PPE) Employers are responsible for providing, replacing and paying for personal protective equipment. PPE should be used when all other measures are inadequate to control exposure. It protects only the wearer, while being worn. If it fails, PPE offers no protection at all. Types of PPE Respirators Protective gloves Protective clothing Protective footwear Eye protection

10. Electricity at Work Regulations • Covers mainly the hardware installations whereby Electrical supply must be of required construction with the ability to isolate supply • “As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger” http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/fod/oc/400-499/480_2.pdf

11. Employer Responsibility • Use of suitably qualified electricians for annual testing and installations – all electrical items must be annually tested from kettle leads to air conditioning units • Provide safe and suitably tested equipment • Have electrical installation certificates available

12. Employee’s Responsibility • Do not use damaged/faulty equipment • Do not use untested/expired equipment • Follow manufacturer guidelines as to equipment use • Report faulty equipment to management and colleagues

13. RIDDOR • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences • The easiest way to do this is by calling the Incident Contact Centre (ICC) on 0845 300 99 23 (local rate) • The information gathered is used to review working practises to prevent further occurances. http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/riddor.htm

14. Employer/Employee Responsibility • MUST REPORT: • Deaths • Major Injuries • 3-day or longer absences • Injuries to public that are subsequently administered to hospital • Some work related diseases • Near misses that may have caused injury/death

15. DSE – Display Screen Equipment DSE use is part of health and safety because it covers aspects such as: • Workstation Analysis • Workstation Requirements • User routines • Stresses and Strains – e.g ULD + RSI • Training and Provision of Information

16. Workstation Analysis • Employers must perform analysis’ of users workstations • A new analysis must be made if it believed the workstation is unsuitable • Risks found must be addresses and removed to prevent stresses and strains to the user Workstation Requirements • Workstations must all be suitable to follow DSE laws and must be suitable for the users needs

17. User Routines • The employer must ensure the user who undertakes their work on DSE takes regular breaks to reduce the effects of prolonged use of DSE. • The breaks may also be a change in activity to reduce chances of RSI (Explained on next slide)

18. Stresses and Strains – e.g ULD + RSI Stresses and strains which may occur due to prolonged use of DSE are :- • RSI – Repetitive Strain Injury – This mainly occurs in areas such as eyes, hands, back and • ULD – Upper Limb Disorder which include pains in the neck, shoulders, arms and also fatigue. • If the end user suspects his/her eyesight is poor the employer must provide a free eye test if he/she uses Display Screen Equipment.

19. Training and Provision of Info The employer must provide training for the end user to ensure the correct working methods and practices are used to reduce the risk of gaining RSI or an ULD. Information on the use of DSE must also be provided on request of the user.