Have you recently started a new job? In your first few weeks did your new employer take you through the health and safety guidelines for your role, ensuring that you are well equipped to safely carry out your duties?

If not, they could be leaving themselves open to prosecution under health and safety legislation and more importantly, they could be putting you and your colleagues in danger of serious injury.

What are the rules?

The Health and Safety Executive states that employers must give “clear instructions, information and adequate training” to their staff. This includes information on any potential risks within the workplace, what measures are in place to reduce the chances of these hazards causing accidents, and how emergency procedures should be followed.

Health and safety training varies in its main focus from place to place, and guidelines followed in a chemical factory will clearly differ to the health and safety rules which need to be in place in an office environment.

Comparing these kinds of workplaces, employers should ensure their staff are aware of the following general risks and how to avoid them, and deal with them if incidents occur.

Health and safety for offices

Common issues in offices of all kinds include:

• The use of electrical equipment including computers – training should be provided and adequate chairs/keyboards should be available
• Wires should be kept tidy and in good condition
• Stairways and corridors should be free of hazards
• Kitchen areas should be clean and tidy
• Asbestos – Have buildings been checked?
• Medical care in the event of an accident – is at least one member of staff trained in first aid?

Health and safety for factories

Factory workers are often exposed to hazardous materials and dangerous equipment as part of their role, and comprehensive health and safety guidelines should always be in place to ensure staff knows how to protect themselves, as well as how to act in the event of an emergency.

The following should be considered in factory environments:

• Dealing with substances that are hazardous to health – biological agents, corrosives, irritants etc
• Storage of same substances
• Course of action if a worker is exposed to substances and suffers burns or other injuries
• Adequate training to operate machinery
• The right protective equipment PPE should be provided to all staff
• Factory floors should be kept tidy and free from debris 

This post was supplier by Carrs Solicitors the specialists in accident at work claims. If you were injured in an accident as a result of health & safety negligence at work, you might be eligible to make a claim.