Everyone in the workplace shares responsibility for health and safety, but employers hold the primary legal duty under UK health and safety legislation. This includes ensuring a safe working environment, conducting risk assessments, and providing training and equipment.
However, employees also have a legal duty of care they must follow safety procedures, report risks, and look out for the safety of others. Roles and responsibilities vary depending on whether you’re an employer, manager, contractor, or staff member.
Employer health & safety responsibilities: an overview
As expected, employers hold most of the responsibility to protect the well-being of staff working within and for the organisation. This duty extends to visitors in the workplace, too.
By UK safety law, there are set duties employers must meet to keep everyone safe from harm. These duties should be carried out by business owners or be delegated (as appropriate) to managers and supervisors.
As an employer, you must meet the following duties to be considered a “safe” workplace by the HSE:
- Conduct risk assessments
- Review and update risk assessments
- Create method statements where needed
- Produce written health and safety policies
- Consult employees about health & safety
- Select suitable contractors
- Effectively communicate health & safety information
- Display approved health & safety posters in visible areas
- Provide adequate health & safety training for staff
- Provide PPE and safety equipment
Employee health & safety responsibilities: an overview
Employers hold most of the responsibility for ensuring the workplace is safe and that there are suitable measures in place to protect staff. However, employees are also held accountable by the HSE to follow the health and safety protocols in place.
The HSE outlines that “workers have a duty of care to take care of their own Health and Safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions at work”.
This means that all staff, at all levels, must act appropriately to protect themselves and others in the workplace.
As an overview, employees must:
- Undertake and follow health and safety training
- Read health and safety policies
- Stay informed of changes to health and safety policies and procedures
- Implement health and safety policies
- Communicate known risks/hazards with employers
- Get involved in consultations to discuss risk management
- Report health and safety concerns quickly
Getting started with health & safety in the workplace
Without proper workplace health and safety, the financial and health consequences can be severe for a company. Ensuring that you are meeting your duties as an employer is essential, and getting it right is easier with expert help.
At HCS Safety, we provide in-classroom training courses, consultancy packages (including audits and safety inspections), and a comprehensive Membership Service to provide you with competent health and safety advice all year round.
Our Membership Service includes:
- Access to competent advice
- Health and safety policy
- Competence and consultation
- Working safely guidelines
- Monitoring and recording tools
- Auditing and reviewing techniques
- On-call duty advisor
- Annual safety review
- Accident investigations
- Seminars and workshops
- Annual safety forum
- Online health and safety portal
- Monthly newsletter
- Exclusive preferential rates for training and consultancy
To learn more and discuss your health and safety requirements, contact our expert team today.
