Advanced Principles and Practice - Essay Example

Introduction Organisations are usually asked to employ Health and Safety measures to protect employees from unnecessary accidents that may cause bodily impairments. If an organisation does not follow the country's Health and Safety rules and regulations then the employees have the right to sue the organisation for neglect. It is no doubt that the company will undergo a lot of losses due to an injury that could be avoided by simply following the rules. The government has Health and Safety practitioners whose responsibility is to ensure that the organisations adhere to these rules and regulations. They interpret the rules to the employers and ensure that they follow them constantly. It has been argued that the practitioners are interested in preventing law suites against employers of companies rather than protecting the workforce when they ensure that the rules are adhered to. Like all other countries, the UK has not been left behind in ensuring safety for workers and for this reason it has its own Health and Safety legislation. It is also important to look at the competency of the Health and Safety practitioners to know if they have the right skills and knowledge to fully interpret the rules. Health and Safety Act 1974 The United Kingdom has the primary document that set out the health and safety regulations in occupations; Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The Act ensures that it has fully explained the regulations that all types of companies are expected to follow. It mainly protects people at work according to the activities they are carrying out. It should be noted that not all regulations can be employed by all departments or companies. The regulations depend on the activities each department or company is undertaking. For instance a bank will have an emergency door in case of fire but one can not find protective clothing against emission of dangerous fumes like in a factory that is producing paper or making plastic bags (Colin, 2004, pp. 120-160). Common Health and Safety Regulations There are common rules that every employer despite the kind of company must adhere to. First of all, every employer has the responsibility of ensuring that practicable Health and Safety rules are in existence within the organisation. The rules and regulations should aim at protecting all employees. The employer needs to ensure that there is maintenance of the plant and all working systems or machines. Constant maintenance will prevent accidents that can be caused by break down of various machines. It is important to ensure maintenance such as changing roofs, mending floors to prevent the risk of falling down, pipe leakages and so on (Colin, 2004, pp. 120-160) . Every company needs to have training sessions for their employees on how to employ safety rules as they work. Training is done when employees are just joining the organisation. Employees are trained on how to handle machines and tools within the organisation. They are also trained on where to find protective clothing and how to handle them. There is need to carry out training of employees so that they can know where they can find First Aid tool kits and emergency doors. When a new machine is introduced within the company, then the workforce needs to know how to handle it and its maintenance to prevent accidents that can be brought about by neglecting it. It is the responsibility of the employer to train its employees in First Aid measures to help in case an accident occurs. Employees can be given training on how to behave in case there is a fire. They can be taught how to use fire extinguishers and the emergency water pipes. A drill can be used by Health and Safety practitioners to check if a company can respond well in case of fire emergency. It can see if the company has fire sensors that immediately release water when there is emission of smoke, emergency exit doors and fire extinguishers. Sometimes employees can decide not to follow the safety rules employed by the company, thus the employer can decide to appoint a supervisor who understands the health and safety regulation to watch the stubborn employees. This will ensure that all employees adhere to the rules (Hood, 2001, pp. 45-56). Every employer is expected to have written policies that go hand in hand with the government's Health and Safety regulations Act. When there is a change in the Act, then it is the responsibility of an employer to immediately revise the policies. The employees are expected to have complete knowledge of these set rules and regulation policies of the company. It is the responsibility of an employer to ensure that they are fully understood by the employees. Immediately there are changes in the policies, then employees should be informed immediately. This is to prevent unnecessary law suites and misunderstandings (Hood, 2001, pp. 45-56). For better communication and implementation of the Act within an organisation, an employer should always seek help form trade unions or other employee representatives. This will enable them to corporate very well in fully implementing the Act because employees are more likely to listen to their representatives rather than the employer. The trade unions have the responsibility of ensuring that the Health and Safety rules are being practised in an organisation. If by any chance an organisation does not follow such rules then they have the mandate to complain and further make employees to strike until the organization sees the importance of employing such rules. Every employer is expected to have a Health and Safety practitioner who will ensure that the safety measures are put in to action. There responsibility is to explain what the Act requires and to constantly review if the company is following the rules (Jeremy, 2003, pp. 120-230). Health and Safety from employers to outsiders It is the responsibility of all self-employed persons and employers to ensure that the Health and Safety regulations protect individuals outside its organisation. It is expected to ensure that there are protective measures employed within the organisation that aim at promoting safety to the outside world. An employer is expected to protect its environment from harm. For instance, an industry is expected to choose a place to throw refuse. It can not throw its refuse anywhere in the streets because it can cause diseases like cholera, diarrhoea and so on. The bad smell form the refuse is also a nuisance to the people living around the industry. For such reasons, an industry has the responsibility of ensuring safety and health of the citizens at large. Health and safety practitioners ensure that companies follow such regulations to prevent them from being sued by their customers. For instance, if a customer falls due to a pot hole on a bank floor, and injures his or her leg, the bank is likely to be sued for neglecting maintenance of its building. It is important to set up warning signs where they can be seen if a place in an organisation is under construction, cleaning or is dangerous. Such measures will definitely prevent the organisation from being blamed when an accident occurs (Jeremy, 2003, pp. 120-230). Manufacturers There are set health and safety measures for manufacturing, designing, importing and supplying companies. Such organisations are expected to ensure that the plants are well constructed and designed to promote safety and reduce risks all the time. There is need for constantly cleaning the environment at which the activities are carried out. This will prevent people from slipping and falling due to split substances (John, 2003, pp. 567-657). It is important to test and examine products that are manufactured by different industries. When a product is sent, it must be packaged in a way that it has all the instructions on how it can be handled. It must also have the name of the manufacturer. If it is a dangerous substance, then it must have an area of caution. It must also include the first aid actions for an individual to take immediately there is an accident in connection with the product. When manufacturing a product, it is essential for an industry to ensure that its risks of causing health problems are reduced completely. This will help the general public from poor health brought about by the product. Before producing a product, the manufactures or designers have the responsibility of carrying out research in relation to the particular product before production. The research is capable of coming up with the dangers of using the product or help in coming up with ways to minimise the risks that it can bring (John, 2003, pp. 567-657). It is important to come up with better ways of transporting and storing substances produced. A manufacturer is expected to give all the information on how a substance can be stored and transported to reduce accidents. This is so because some products are explosives and if subjected to harsh conditions, they can explode. Such measures will not only secure the employees from risks but also the people who are receiving the products. When a product is manufactured, it is good to ensure that it is away from posing any risks to health for the general public. The manufacturer should ensure that the mixture of chemicals is in the right proportion and that no substance has expired or is damaged. This protects people from poisoning (Neville, 2005, pp.230-500). There are some health and safety regulations that need to be followed in case a company emits poisonous fumes or substances. This Act is meant to ensure that the workforces in industries are protected from such dangerous substances and emissions. It also aims at protecting the general public as the fumes in the atmosphere can affect them; causing diseases like lung cancer and asthma or other breathing problems. It also looks at how a manufacturing company can store and control substances that are likely to be explosive and very flammable. It also entails restricting the acquisition of some substances that can lead to explosions. Its main argument is that some products are too delicate to be handled in any manufacturing company (Neville, 2005, pp.230-500). Due to the risks that lead poses to the general public and workers, it is important for all manufactures of varnishes and paints to label the containers on the amount of lead used. It is important for the containers to contain caution in relation to child safety because they can chew the painted or varnished surfaces swallowing lead. It should be noted that the content of lead is not expected to be more than 0.15%. The container should have a warning sign saying that the content has lead. For adhesives that have cyanoacrylate, the packaging is expected to have a warning sign saying "danger" and the name of the chemical 'cyanoacrylate'. It should give information on how in seconds it can bond the skin and the eyes. Together with all these, it is expected to have safety measures when one is handling it. Substances containing isocyanates are expected to have labels connoting that they have the chemical. Information by the manufacturer is expected to accompany the label. For a substance that has epoxy constituents, there should be caution on the packaging and information from the manufacturer should accompany the product for safety purposes. Chlorine is a very dangerous substance thus for any product that contains it should put a warning saying that the product should not be used by any other product. Caution of dangerous fumes to be emitted when using soldering material that contains cadmium should be highlighted. This will give the user the information on the safety clothing to put on while using the product (Neville, 2005, pp.230-500). The employees are expected to be wearing the correct protective clothing as they work within manufacturing companies. For instance, in chilli producing companies, it is important to have proper ventilation because chilli leads to choking that can irritate the lungs and more so, the area is usually too hot. When it comes to construction sites, it is important for anyone at the site to put on helmets. This is to protect the head from any falling objects or just in case a person falls down. When working in an environment that one is subjected to dust, it is important to wear a mask that will protect the mouth and the nose form the dust. This prevents the people form inhaling dust that can irritate the lungs or the tracheal system (Rappert, 2003, pp. 50-78). As manufactures distribute finished goods, it is important for them to ensure that the packaging has the necessary cautions of the dangerous chemicals that have been used. The packaging must state the amount of the chemical used in the product. It can use words like: danger, caution and warning. The placements of the warnings need to be in a position where a customer can see. The manufacturer can also include words such as corrosive or toxic to show that the substance needs careful treatment. Along with all these, information from the manufacturer should always be included in the packaging. It needs to give procedures on how to use and handle substances and the first aid measures to take in case of an accident. It also needs to contain signs and symptoms when one has reacted to the substance (Rappert, 2003, pp. 50-78). Inspectors It is in the Health and Safety Act 1974 that an inspector is supposed to be appointed to ensure that companies are following the Act. They are expected to have full knowledge of the laws regarding health and safety rules and regulations. It is important for companies to appoint a Health and Safety practitioner because they help the employers in interpreting the Act thus preventing them from closure and law suites. Every inspector is expected to know the powers they hold when conducting their services. They are only to conduct services in the field they are knowledgeable in. For instance if it is in a construction site, one will not find an inspector who has been trained to ensure hotels adhere to the Act (Thompson, 2001, pp. 145-210). The inspector has the power to enter any premise as long as it is in accordance to his or her duties appointed. This could be because he or she has a word that the area is not adhering to the Act and the employees and the general public are at a risk. He or she has the right to do thorough inspection of the area. If by any chance the inspector meets obstruction by the employer, he or she has the right to call security or be accompanied by a constable. The constable has the right to arrest any one who prevents the inspector from carrying out his or her duties. He or she has the right to carry out investigations and carry any evidence against the Act. Photographing, video taking and measurements are some of the ways in which the inspector can collect evidence. This will give reasonable proof of how the company is neglecting health and safety. The inspector has the right to stop continuation of activities while he or she is performing the inspection. It is their responsibility to take any documents for example accounting books to verify the substances bought, take copies of receipts and any other documents that will aid in the investigation. When an inspector finds fault with a premise, he or she is expected to explain to the owners about their negligence and give reasons as to why they will be reported as not following the Act (Thompson, 2001, pp. 145-210). Health and safety practitioners It is important for every company to have a health and safety practitioner to help in the interpretation and implementation of the Health and Safety Act in the working environments. The practitioners are expected to have full knowledge of the Act and how it is expected to work in a particular company. Practitioners are trained to focus in particular industries. One can find a practitioner who has specialised in construction, chemical industries and any other production industry. It is important for an organisation to get someone who is learned and can interpret the law very well to avoid unnecessary law suites. It is a critical question when one asks if the practitioners are competent enough to do their jobs. Well, some are very competent because they are in to their jobs and they will do anything to help employers avoid law suites. Some are not competent enough as they do not concentrate on understanding the laws moreover, they do not have time to know the amendments that are made on the Act. It is the responsibility of an employer to ensure it has hired a competent Health and Safety practitioner (Kogan, 2006, pp. 300-500). Conclusion Health and safety rules are important as they protect every one not only employees from accidents. The government should continue making the necessary changes in the Act to prevent the misuse of certain substances that can harm people and the environment. Health and safety practitioners need complete and perfect training to avoid misinterpretation of the laws. The practitioners work to help employers and not to ensure safety of workers because the Act targets what an employer is expected to do to ensure that there are health and safety Acts. In the process they protect the employees and the general public so it all trickles down to every one benefiting from their work. References Colin F., 2004. UK Enforcement of Health and Safety: Health and Safety Management Principles. Pp. 120-160. Hood J., 2001. Highlight Economics Gains from the Policy: Competition and Safety in UK. Vol. 10, pp. 45-56. Jeremy W., 2003. Duties of the Employer in Health and Safety at work: Health and Safety law in UK. Pp. 120-230. John R., 2003. Health and Safety and Risk Management: Safety at Work. Pp. 567-657. Kogan P., 2006. Qualified Health and Safety practitioners: British Qualifications. Pp. 300-500. Neville S., 2005. UK Management of Health and Safety at work: Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics Methods. Pp. 230-500. Rappert B., 2003. Health and Safety in policing: Lessons from the regulation of UK. Vol.23, pp. 50-78. Thompson T., 2001. Challenge of Culture, Conscience and Contract general practitioners: British Medical journal. Vol. 50, pp. 145-210. Read More