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Key Legislations Covering Health And Safety Management

Decent Essays

It has been known for many years that most of the reported illnesses and injuries are claimed to be work related and therefore it became a legal requirement for an organisation, where five or more people are employed, to have a written Health and Safety policy statement in place, which is often governed by various legislations. The primary function of these legislations is to guide the employees on their responsibilities, shared with the employer, and to ensure the safeguarding of the health, safety and well being of workers and protection toward others, such as the public, and the outside environment that may be affected by the daily activities performed in the organisation. This essay will outline the key legislations covering health and safety management within a company comprising of microbiological containment laboratories, where the term 'containment ' refers to the way in which biological agents are handled in a laboratory setting in order to minimise the risk that they pose to humans and the environment. The regulatory body who promotes and enforces occupational health, safety and welfare at the workplace legislations is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Although many work environments have been covered by the regulations made under the powers of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), they must also bear in mind the regulatory influence of the European Communities Act 1972, which has already lead to many amendments in the UK laws. The HASAWA is

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