NEBOSH: Element 1: 10 Legal reasons to Manage safety

1. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
2. Workplace Regulations
3. Insurance Requirements
4. Duty of Care
5. Occupational Health
6. Reporting Requirements
7. Penalties and Fines
8. Legal Liability
9. Contractual and Tort Law
10. Civil Liability

1. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: We’ve got the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which is a big legal deal. It says employers have a legal duty to make sure their workplace is safe and sound for employees and anyone affected by their work.
2. Workplace Regulations: Then we’ve got various workplace regulations, like the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. These rules make employers do risk assessments, put safety measures in place, and give proper training to keep everyone safe.
3. Insurance requirements: There’s also the requirement for employers’ liability insurance. The law says employers need this insurance to cover compensation claims from employees who get hurt or sick because of work.
4. Duty of Care: Employers have a duty of care too. Under Duty of Care tort his means they legally have to provide a safe workplace, safe equipment, and proper training to cut down on risks.
5. Occupational Health: There are specific regulations for things like hazardous substances, called the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002. They make sure employers assess and control risks related to these substances to reduce the impact on peoples health.
6. Reporting Requirements: We can’t forget the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR). These say employers have to report certain workplace incidents and accidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
7. Penalties and Fines: If employers don’t follow these rules, there can be some serious penalties. This includes fines, and in some cases, company directors could even end up in jail.
8. Legal Liability: Employers can be legally liable for their employees conduct if there are injuries or accidents at work due to negligence or not following safety rules.
9. Contractual and Tort Law: Negligence in health and safety can lead to legal claims through contractual and tort law. That could mean paying out compensation through Employment tribunals or the claims courts.
10. Civil Liability: Finally, there’s civil liability. Employers can face claims from employees or others who get hurt because the company didn’t make the workplace safe.

These legal reasons show why managing safety isn’t just a good idea – it’s a legal obligation that protects both employees and businesses under British law.